Health

Don’t Underestimate Kawasaki, It Can Cause Death In Children – Experts

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) — Kawasaki disease or also known as Kawasaki syndrome although rare, can cause the risk of death among infected children if not given appropriate treatment immediately.

Senior consultant paediatrician and also consultant clinical immunologist and allergist at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Teaching Hospital, Associate Prof Dr Intan Hakimah Ismail said the disease that involves inflammation of the blood vessels tends to strike children under five years of age.

“The most worrying complication of Kawasaki disease is inflammation of the coronary arteries which can lead to heart problems and then risk death if not treated properly,” she told Bernama recently.

According to Dr Intan Hakimah who is also the head of the Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPM, Kawasaki disease is difficult to diagnose because it has similar symptoms to other diseases including fever.

However, parents can take the first step by taking their child to see a doctor if they have symptoms such as fever for more than five days; rash on parts of the body; swelling of the glands; red, swollen tongue called ‘strawberry tongue’ and red eyes but not watery or have eye discharge.

“If children have these symptoms, immediately take them to see a doctor, preferably a paediatrician because they are more skilled and can find out if it is Kawasaki or not,” she said.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Health posted an infographic on Kawasaki disease and advised parents to seek immediate treatment if their child has symptoms to reduce the risk of heart complications.

On treatment, Dr Intan Hakimah said children who were confirmed to be infected with Kawasaki mostly recovered within a few days, but in some serious cases, patients had to be treated in hospital to enable immunoglobulin antibodies by intravenous (IV) infusion given to them.

Dr Intan Hakimah said that as of now it has not been possible to identify the real cause of Kawasaki infection which was detected by a Japanese paediatrician, Dr Tomisaku Kawasaki, for the first time in 1967.

In this regard, she advised parents to always take precautions in case their children have a fever and not to consider it as something normal for a growing up child.

Meanwhile, senior consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS said Kawasaki was not a virus and Asian young children were more prone to the disease.

Asked about the preventive measures, Dr Amar who is the advisor to the National Early Childhood Intervention Council (NECIC), advised parents to seek immediate help if they suspect their child has all the symptoms.

“It is not known what causes the disease, but there is a good treatment for Kawasaki disease which is using immunoglobulin and aspirin. However, the best indicator is the prolonged fever and not responding to usual treatment,” he told Bernama.

Sources: BERNAMA

Adib Mohd

Recent Posts

30 Years, One Icon: Three Decades of Magic with Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza Live in Concert This July!

Fans of Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza are in for an extraordinary treat as Malaysia’s most… Read More

1 day ago

AEON Launches Reforestation Project In Segamat To Continue Legacy Of Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest

Building on the success of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme in Bidor, Perak, AEON is… Read More

1 day ago

A Milestone Celebration: 20 Years of the World’s Biggest Duathlon

The highly anticipated POWERMAN Malaysia celebrated its 20th anniversary milestone this year, with OMODA |… Read More

1 day ago

Ready or Not, Here Comes the Final Chapter of Squid Game and YOU Can Be A Part of History

Ready or Not, Here Comes the Final Chapter of Squid Game and YOU Can Be… Read More

1 day ago

Students Donate 5,000 Clothes with UNIQLO to Help Refugee Youth

What happens when a global fashion brand teams up with a school full of big-hearted… Read More

1 day ago

Shopee’s 7.7 Squad Pulls Up: 2,000 Affiliates, 80 Brands & One Big Mission “Shop Lagi Murah, Lagi Cepat”

Picture this: 2,000 creators. 80+ brands. One giant house party for all things content, community,… Read More

1 day ago

This website uses cookies.