Someone does not have to be directly affected by Kawasaki Disease (KD) to understand the work and how their support, time, and donation/sponsorship can make a difference. KD affects over 4,200 kids every year in the US. KD, also known as Kawasaki syndrome, is a serious illness (rare disease) characterized by inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body that primarily affects young children and infants. KD is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. KD is more common in boys than girls, and the majority of cases are diagnosed in the winter and early spring. The disease is named after Tomisaku Kawasaki, a Japanese pediatrician who first described the illness in the medical literature in 1967. Although, it is more prevalent among children of Asian and Pacific Island descent, KD affects people of all racial and ethnic groups. Without treatment, about 25% of children develop heart disease involving the coronary arteries. Timely diagnosis (to prevent complications KD needs to be diagnosed within 10 days) and treatment (which usually includes intravenous gamma globulin) is highly effective in preventing coronary complications. Doctors continue to study the long-term outcome of children who do not appear to have coronary involvement. Other kinds of longer-term consequences (e.g., non-coronary) are extremely rare. There is no evidence that links KD with autism or a seizure disorder. A very small number of KD children might have a seizure in the early acute stage of KD when there are very high fevers, but there is no on-going or long-term seizure prone condition. FIRST PHASE SYMPTOMS:
• Fever which often is higher than 102.2 F (39 C) and lasts more than five days (Please be aware that this may be the only symptom)
• Extremely red eyes (conjunctivitis) without a thick discharge
• A rash on the main part of the body (trunk) and in the genital area
• Red, dry, cracked lips and an extremely red, swollen tongue (strawberry tongue)
• Swollen, red skin on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and perhaps elsewhere
• Irritability
SECOND PHASE:
• Peeling of the skin on the hands and feet, especially the tips of the fingers and toes, often in large sheets
• Joint pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
THIRD PHASE
• In the third phase of the disease, signs and symptoms slowly go away unless complications develop
• It may be as long as eight weeks before energy levels seem normal again
History of the Foundation
Kawasaki Kids Foundation was started in 2013 by the Logan family after their 3 year old son, Cooper, was diagnosed in 2012. Cooper was diagnosed at 12 ½ days which is outside the critical 10 day window. Since, the Logan family has struggled with not only the medical expenses but with the fact that everything could be different if the doctors would have been more aware of KD and its symptoms. Cooper was misdiagnosed with an appendectomy, a nasty virus, and then finally, correctly diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease. Unfortunately, it was too late and Cooper’s diagnosis resulted in a giant aneurysm in his right coronary artery. He has since been diagnosed with chronic kidney failure as a result of an adverse reaction to his heart medications. His life of anti-coagulants, heart surgeries and kidney transplant would have been avoided if he was correctly and timely diagnosed. The Logan family knew they could make a difference by starting and running a foundation to help support research, awareness, and affected families.
