Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2005 Aug;48(8):1060-1063.

Atypical Presentation of Kawasaki Disease Resembling a Cervical Lymphadenitis: Three Cases

• Jun BS
• Yeo CK
• Kim SH
• Kim YH

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute multisystemic vasculitis, which occurs in children of less than 10 years of age. Recently, KD has become the leading cause of acquired heart diseases in children in the developed world, with coronary artery aneurysms occurring in up to 25% of untreated cases. A number of publications described patients for whom the diagnosis was delayed since the symptoms did not fulfill the required criteria to be diagnosed as KD, and, consequently heightened cardiac complications resulted. These cases are known as atypical or incomplete KD. The following case report describes patients with atypical KD, whose initial presentation mimicked a cervical lymphadenitis. Empiric antibiotics were prescribed in these cases with unsatisfactory response, initially. An awareness of this entity with its manifestations is warranted by otolaryngologists who may well be the first doctor on the scene. Prompt and early treatment with aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin may decrease morbidity and potential mortality of this enigmatic disease.

Keyword

Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; Lymphadenitis

MeSH Terms

Aneurysm
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Aspirin
Child
Coronary Vessels
Diagnosis
Heart Diseases
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Lymphadenitis*
Mortality
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*
Vasculitis
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Aspirin
Immunoglobulins