Clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease according to age at diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the clinical, laboratory and diagnostic features of Kawasaki disease (KD) in children <6 mo and >5 y of age to those in the more typical age range at diagnosis (6 mo-5 y of age).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis.


METHODS
Severeance Children Hospital attached to a Medical School, Korea.


METHODS
All children with a discharge diagnosis of KD at Severance Childrens Hospital (2006-2007) were retrospectively reviewed and grouped according to age at presentation in 3 groups: <6 mo, 6 mo-5 y and >5 years. Clinical, hematological, and biochemical features and involvement of coronary artery and proportion of Classic vs. Incomplete KD were compared between the 3 groups.


RESULTS
A total of 185 children were identified. Complete KD was found in 63 (34%) children and Incomplete KD in 122 (66%). There was 22(12%) children below 6 months of age, 131 (71%) between 6 months to 5 years) and 32 (17%) above 5 years of age. Clinical, hematological and biochemical features were comparable between the three age groups. Overall, coronary artery lesions occurred in 9% children without any preference for age. The proportion of Classical vs. Incomplete KD was also similar in the three age categories.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical and laboratory phenotype of KD does not vary significantly with age.
Kim
Seong Hyun
SH
Department of Pediatrics, Severance Childrens Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Kim
Ki Hwan
KH
Kim
Dong Soo
DS
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies