title: Results from an international survey of Kawasaki disease in 1979-82.
abstract: Kawasaki disease is a febrile illness of unknown etiology affecting mainly children younger than five years, 20% of whom develop coronary artery aneurysms. The disease was first reported in Japan, but case reports have come from several countries; epidemics apparently occur every two to three years. A committee of the International Society and Federation of Cardiology (ISFC) collaborated on an international, retrospective survey in mid-1983 through 1984, asking about Kawasaki disease cases seen in 1979-82 and their outcomes. Responses were received from 53 countries; reports from 20 countries indicated that no cases were seen in the years surveyed. Kawasaki disease did not always follow the Japanese pattern. An indication of 'epidemic' increases was found in some years in some countries. Recognition of Kawasaki disease varies considerably, but further educational efforts are likely to uncover additional cases, and intensive epidemiological efforts would be possible in a number of countries.
authors.affiliation: Subcommittee on Kawasaki Disease, International Society and Federation of Cardiology, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Attie
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gersony
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kusakawa
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takao
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van der Hauwaert
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies