Role of Infectious Agents in the Etiology of Kawasaki Disease

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a multisystemic childhood vasculitis that predominantly affects the coronary arteries. The constellation of clinical features in KD, such as, acute onset of fever, redness of lips and oral mucosa, rash, swelling over palms and feet, cervical adenopathy, and perineal peeling followed by periungual peeling suggests an infection or toxin-mediated etiology. Occurrence of cases in clusters and epidemics also support an infectious etiology for KD. Many infectious agents—bacteria, fungi, and viruses—are reported to be associated with KD. This review article gives a comprehensive overview of available literature that supports an infective etiology for KD.

Keywords

• infections
• kawasaki disease
• rna virus
• superantigen
• wind hypothesis