Pediatr Infect Vaccine.  2023 Aug;30(2):97-103. 10.14776/piv.2023.30.e9.

Acute Appendicitis: A Rare But Probable Manifestation of Kawasaki Disease

• Choi W
• Yun SW
• Hong M
• Suh SW
• Yi DY
• Park JY

• KMID: 2549045
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2023.30.e9

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, systemic inflammatory disorder that often targets coronary arteries. Being the common cause of acquired heart disease in children, timely diagnosis and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment are crucial. However, it is challenging for physicians to diagnose KD if it presents with atypical manifestations. We report the case of a 5-year-old boy who initially presented with appendicitis; after an appendectomy, he had a prolonged fever. He was finally diagnosed with atypical KD and successfully recovered after intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. Through a literature review, we found 21 cases of appendicitis associated with KD. In most cases, the patients were male with a mean age of 5.3 years. Most had higher proportions of incomplete KD and coronary artery complications than expected for typical KD. In conclusion, appendicitis could be a rare complication of KD; therefore, multidisciplinary cooperation and early recognition of atypical KD are essential for timely diagnosis.

Keyword

Abdomen; Acute; Appendicitis; Child; Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome