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Neonatal Kawasaki disease: case report and data from nationwide survey in Japan

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Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis that develops during childhood, with a peak incidence from 6 to 23 months of age. KD also affects younger children, including neonates. We herein describe the case of a 22-day-old patient with incomplete KD. Some characteristics of neonatal KD are also presented with a review of nationwide surveys of KD in Japan involving approximately 130,000 patients during a 12-year period. The surveys identified 23 neonatal cases, accounting for 1/5,500 of patients of all ages with KD. We found that the characteristics of neonatal KD are likely to be incompatible with the classic criteria for KD and that the incidence of coronary disorders in neonatal patients was not statistically higher than that in older patients. These findings are very similar to those of previous reports of neonatal KD. Conclusion: Neonatal KD is rare and often presents with only a few features of KD. In addition, both neonatal and older patients with KD are at risk of coronary disorders. These characteristics present a challenge to pediatricians in the diagnosis and treatment of febrile neonates.

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Fig. 1
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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

IVIG:

Intravenous immunoglobulin

KD:

Kawasaki disease

OR:

Odds ratio

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all pediatricians who support the nationwide surveys of KD in Japan. The present surveys were financially supported in part by the Japanese Kawasaki Disease Research Center, a nonprofit organization.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Fujieda Municipal General Hospital, 4-1-11 Surugadai, Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan

    Mayumi Hangai, Yasuo Kubota & Jiro Kagawa

  2. Department of Public Health, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan

    Mayumi Yashiro, Ritei Uehara & Yosikazu Nakamura

  3. Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Masato Takeuchi

Authors
  1. Mayumi Hangai
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  2. Yasuo Kubota
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  3. Jiro Kagawa
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  4. Mayumi Yashiro
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  5. Ritei Uehara
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  6. Yosikazu Nakamura
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  7. Masato Takeuchi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mayumi Hangai.

Additional information

Communicated by David Nadal

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Hangai, M., Kubota, Y., Kagawa, J. et al. Neonatal Kawasaki disease: case report and data from nationwide survey in Japan. Eur J Pediatr 173, 1533–1536 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-014-2347-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-014-2347-x

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