Atipical kawasaki disease with coronary aneurysm in infant

• Main Authors: Bandello Maria, Vignali Daniela, Tchana Bertrand, Verna Marta, Raggi Vera, Dodi Icilio, Lacava Silvia, Izzi Gian, Agnetti Aldo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-04-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Pediatrics
• Online Access: http://www.ijponline.net/content/37/1/19

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile disease of unknown etiology, characterized by systemic vascular inflammation involving the small and medium sized arteries, with a predilection for the coronary arteries. It represents the leading cause of acquired heart diseases in children in developed countries. Diagnosis, difficult because of the clinical characteristics of the disease with typical signs and symptoms appearing sequentially and not simultaneously, may be even more complicated in case of unusual presentation, leading to delay in recognition, particularly in infant in whom a higher incidence of coronary arteries aneurysms has been reported. A high index of suspicion of Kawasaki disease must be maintained in case of prolonged fever in these patients. Timely appropriate treatment is essential to avoid severe sequels. We report the case of a 2 months old male infant with persistent febrile episode, transferred to us from another institution, who presented on echocardiography giant aneurysms on both coronary arteries.</p>