title: Influenza infection and Kawasaki disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to investigate the possible link between influenza (Flu) infection and Kawasaki disease (KD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the medical records of 1,053 KD cases and 4,669 influenza infection cases hospitalized at our institute from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013. Cases of KD with concomitant influenza infection formed the KD + Flu group. Each KD + Flu case was matched with 2 KD cases and 2 influenza infection cases, and these cases were assigned to the KD group and Flu group, respectively. The differences in the principal clinical manifestations, course of disease, incomplete KD rate, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance rate, and echocardiographic detection results between the KD + Flu group and KD group were compared. The fever durations and laboratory test results of these three groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1) The seasonal variations of the KD + Flu group, KD group and Flu group were similar. 2) The morbidity rate of incomplete KD was higher in the KD + Flu group compared with the KD group. 3) Patients in the KD + Flu group exhibited a longer time to KD diagnosis compared with patients in the KD group. 4) The KD + Flu group exhibited the longest fever duration among the three groups. 5) The CRP and ESR values in the KD + Flu group were higher those in the Flu or KD groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concomitant influenza infection affects the clinical manifestations of KD and can impact the laboratory test results and the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. However, it remains unclear whether influenza contributes to KD etiology.
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xijing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuliang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons