How is Kawasaki Disease Diagnosed and Treated?
As soon as the first phase of symptoms begin, you should immediately take your child to the doctor. The only way to have a child safely get through KD is to have proper medical treatment.
Currently, there is no single test to detect KD but rather a careful examination using several tests to rule out other illnesses. The other diseases with signs and symptoms in common with KD include:
• Measles
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Tick-borne illnesses
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome – affects the mucous membrane
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Scarlet fever – caused by streptococcal bacteria and causes fever, rash, and sore throat
Once these have been ruled out, the doctor will also order for the following;
• Blood tests. Used to rule out other diseases by checking the white blood cell count. A high WBC count alongside inflammation and anemia points towards Kawasaki disease.
• Electrocardiogram. Used to monitor impulses created by the child’s heartbeat. This helps detect KD through irregular heart rhythms.
• Echocardiogram. Similar to an ultrasound, this shows how well the heart is functioning and can help identify issues within the coronary arteries.
