[Incidence of Kawasaki disease].
BACKGROUND
Kawasaki disease is a self-limiting acute vasculitis of unknown aetiology. It usually affects younger children and is now the most common cause of acquired cardiac disease in children in the western world. Untreated, 25% of the cases result in coronary aneurysms. The diagnosis is based on certain clinical criteria. The aim of this study was to describe the disease in our area with a focus on its epidemiology.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study based on hospital discharge data on Kawasaki patients treated in 2001 and 2002 in our hospital.


RESULTS
During these two years, ten patients where identified. One had atypical Kawasaki disease. One in five developed coronary aneurysms in the acute stage of the disease, and many had involvement of other organs.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased knowledge of Kawasaki disease is needed, as an accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate and lifesaving treatment.
Klevberg
Sjur
S
Barneavdelingen, Akershus universitetssykehus, 1474 Nordbyhagen. sjur.klevberg@ahus.no
Farstad
Teresa
T
Perminow
Karl Viktor
KV
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies