Definition
(Read about Kawasaki disease related to children or how Kawasaki disease affects children in general.)
Kawasaki disease is an idiopathic multisystem disease of young children characterized by Vasculitis of the small-and medium-sized blood vessels. Kawasaki disease in adults is less common and rarely occurs.
Kawasaki disease diagnosis requires a fever for greater than 5 days and four of the following criteria:
- Nonexudative conjunctival injection
- Polymorphs, nonvesicular rash
- Mucosal involvement of the upper respiratory tract that may include erythema, fissures of the lips, crusting of the lips and mouth, or a strawberry tongue. Exudative pharyngitis and discrete oral lesions. Are rare.
- Edema or erythema of the hands and feet
- Cervical adenopathy of at least 1.5 cm in diameter, which is often unilateral
Atypical Kawasaki disease
Patient may present with less than four of the five diagnostic criteria and still develop aneurysms. Atypical Kawasaki disease is more common in children than 1 year of age.
Causes of Kawasaki disease
Etiology remain unknown. Infectious etiology such as viruses and bacteria has been suspected, but no definite causative agents have been demonstrated. It is believed many factors, including viral or bacterial superantigen, can trigger immune activation and lead to a self directed immune response.
Kawasaki disease symptoms
Kawasaki disease symptoms in acute phase include:
- Fever for more than 5 days
- Bilateral conjunctivitis
- Oropharyngeal edema
- Dry, cracked lips
- Strawberry tongue
- Erythmetous, edematous handle or feet with or without desquamation
- Erythmetous maculopapular rash
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Abdominal pain and vomiting secondary to bilary obstruction
Kawasaki disease symptoms in Subacute phase include:
- Irritability
- Arthritis
- Myocarditis
- Arthralgias
- more prominent desquamation
Convalescent phase consist:
- Gradual resolution of symptoms
(Continue reading for more information on Kawasaki disease diagnosis and homeopathic remedies for Kawasaki disease treatment…)
Kawasaki disease diagnosis
Laboratory tests for Kawasaki disease
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to look for elevation
- CBC to look for leukocytosis
- Serum immunoglobulin levels to for elevated IgE level
- Chemistry panel to look for elevated bilirubin
- Blood and throat cultures to identify causative organisms.
Imaging studies
Following tests are mainly required for the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease
- ECG to look arrhythmias
- Chest radiograph to look cardiomegaly and infiltrates
- Echocardiogram to look for valvular abnormalities and cardiomyopathy.
Kawasaki disease treatment with homeopathy
Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat Kawasaki disease symptoms but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat Kawasaki disease symptoms that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following medicines which are helpful in Kawasaki disease symptoms:
Arnica Montana, Arsenic Album, Baryta Carb, Pulsatilla, Sulphur, Aconite, Antim Tart, Apis Mel, Calcaria Carb, Chamomilla, China, Cuprum Met, Hamamalis, Kali Carb, Kreosote, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Silicea, Spigelia, Thuja, Vipera, Zincum Met and many other medicines.