Japanese disease detected in Karachi

According to sources at the AKUH, a patient, Taha (7), was rushed to the hospital last Sunday with symptoms of high fever. He was undergoing persistent fever for the last 10 days.

According to the experts, no test can detect Kawasaki disease, so doctors usually diagnose it by evaluating the symptoms. Most kids diagnosed with Kawasaki disease will have a fever lasting 5 or more days and at least four of these symptoms including redness in eyes, changes around the lips, tongue, or mouth, changes in the fingers and toes, such as swelling, discoloration, or peeling, a rash on genital organs, a large swollen lymph node in the neck, red and swollen palms of hands and soles of feet.

If Kawasaki disease is suspected, the doctor may order tests to monitor heart function and might take blood and urine samples to rule out other conditions.

Kawasaki disease can’t be prevented but usually has telltale symptoms and signs that appear in phases.

The first phase, which can last for up to 2 weeks, usually involves a persistent fever higher than 104_ Fahrenheit (39 Celsius) and lasts for at least 5 days. Doctors can manage the symptoms of Kawasaki disease if they catch it early. Symptoms often disappear within just 2 days of the start of treatment.