Don’t panic – there is no increase in Kawasaki Disease after COVID-19
Don’t panic. There is no increase in Kawasaki Disease among children in Sri Lanka after the COVID-19 outbreak.
This was the strong reassurance given to parents by well-known Paediatrician, Prof. Pujitha Wickramasinghe, following speculation and fear that Kawasaki Disease is on the rise in the country.
Earlier, international reports from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Spain, France and Italy referred to a possible "new phenomenon" describing it as being similar to Kawasaki Disease and Toxic Shock Syndrome.
Pointing out that Kawasaki Disease is not new to the world having been identified in 1967, Prof. Wickramasinghe who is Senior Professor in Paediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, and Honorary Consultant at the premier Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) for Children, says that no one knows exactly how the illness starts.
The cause of Kawasaki Disease is not known but it leads to the inflammation of blood vessels. It is not infectious and does not spread from child to child. It is diagnosed on clinical signs and symptoms and it is treatable, he said.
The signs and symptoms associated with Kawasaki Disease are fever going on for five days or more, itchy red eyes but without the production of pus, cracked lips and red mouth but there is no
ulcer formation and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, the Sunday Times learns.
“If your child is having fever, give him/her paracetamol, lots of liquids and whatever he/she wishes to eat. Watch for 48-72 hours and if the fever does not subside, see a doctor,” says Prof. Wickramasinghe, explaining that no diagnosis can be made in one or two days.
Referring to the prevalence of Kawasaki Disease, he says that though the numbers across the country are not known, at LRH they see about 10-15 cases per year.
“There is treatment for Kawasaki Disease, so don’t panic. It is only rarely that complications such as the heart’s blood vessels being affected arise,” he adds.