Kawasaki disease (KD) is an illness of the pediatric age group which causes inflammation or swelling in the blood vessels of the body (vasculitis). KD mainly affects blood vessels of medium size. The affected child (usually below 5 years of age) presents with a fever, often high-grade, that does not respond to antibiotics.
There may be other symptoms like rash, redness of the eyes, and redness on the mouth and tongue. The child, especially if an infant, may be very irritable. Kawasaki disease needs urgent specialist care as the disease process can involve the heart, leading to coronary artery dilatation.