Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2009

Identifier

PMCID: PMC2745188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.10.006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe common associated symptoms within the 10 days before diagnosis in subjects enrolled in the Pediatric Heart Network's trial of steroid therapy in Kawasaki disease (KD).

STUDY DESIGN: Patients with acute KD were enrolled between days 4 and 10 of illness at 8 centers between 2002 and 2004. We defined common associated symptoms as those occurring in >or=10% of patients. Principal clinical criteria for KD were not included in this analysis.

RESULTS: Among 198 patients, irritability was reported in 98 (50%), vomiting in 88 (44%), decreased food/fluid intake in 73 (37%), cough in 55 (28%), diarrhea in 52 (26%), rhinorrhea in 37 (19%), weakness in 37 (19%), abdominal pain in 35 (18%), and joint pain (arthralgia or arthritis) in 29 (15%). One or more gastrointestinal symptom (vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain) was present in 120 patients (61%) and 69 patients (35%) had >or= 1 respiratory symptom (rhinorrhea or cough).

CONCLUSIONS: Nonspecific symptoms occur commonly in children with KD. To reduce delays in diagnosis, clinicians should be educated that such symptoms may comprise a significant component in the chief complaint.

Journal Title

The Journal of pediatrics

Volume

154

Issue

4

First Page

592

Last Page

595

MeSH Keywords

Abdominal Pain; Appetite; Arthralgia; Cough; Diarrhea; Early Diagnosis; Humans; Infant; Irritable Mood; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Muscle Weakness; North America; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Rhinitis; Vomiting

Keywords

Kawasaki Disease

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