Difficulties in the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to highlight the difficulties faced in the clinical diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease (KD) presenting beyond the first week. This is a retrospective study of 25 cases of which only 36% met the criteria for classical and 8% was incomplete KD. Majority (56%) did not meet the criteria for classical KD; at the same time they were not incomplete / atypical cases. Difficulties arise in diagnosis of the cases presenting in the second week, as by that time many of the classical findings disappear or probably have not been present at all. In this scenario high index of suspicion for KD in a child presenting with fever, looking not that sick (Non toxic look) with bulbar conjunctivitis and oral mucositis helped us to reach the diagnosis. We incidentally observed Hyperemia of the Upper Eyelids in 32% of our cases, which might assist in the diagnosis.