Kawasaki SyndromeMedical researchers at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have studied this but do not know the exact cause. Kawasaki syndrome, also called mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (MLNS), is a disease of unknown cause that primarily affects children under 5 years of age. Kawasaki syndrome and acute rheumatic fever are the two leading causes of acquired heart disease in children in the United States. Kawasaki syndrome usually begins with a high fever that lasts for at least 5 days and is difficult to bring down with fever medication. The child then may develop redness in the white part of the eyes, a red throat and tongue, swelling of the lymph glands in the neck, a rash on the body and swelling of the hands and/or feet. Children with Kawasaki syndrome may be quite ill for several weeks and may require hospitalization. Nevertheless, most of them recover without complications. Kawasaki syndrome is a relatively rare disease that is more likely to occur in the spring or winter. There have been no firm confirmed studies showing a direct link between carpet cleaning and Kawasaki syndrome. In most cases where a child had developed Kawasaki syndrome after the carpet in his or her house was cleaned, it was cleaned by a do-it-yourself method or the child entered the cleaned room within 2 hours of its being cleaned. More than 1,800 cases of Kawasaki disease are being diagnosed annually in the United States. Fewer than 1 percent die. It is best to keep young children (and pets) away from newly cleaned rugs and carpets for at least several hours. Recent studies, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, have indicated that Kawasaki Syndrome is caused by a coronavirus related to the SARS virus. Related Links and Information: |
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