Kawasaki Disease

Symptoms and signs help healthcare providers make a Kawasaki disease diagnosis with a physical exam. If your child only has some of the symptoms, this is atypical or incomplete Kawasaki disease. Before making a diagnosis, providers have to rule out other causes of fever.

What are the three stages of Kawasaki disease?

The three stages of Kawasaki disease are:

Stage 1 (Acute)

• Fever for five days or more.
• Rash around the trunk or groin.
• Pink eye.
• Red tongue and lips.
• Red skin on hands and feet (palms and soles).
• Swelling in lymph nodes.

Stage 2 (Subacute)

• Starts when fever goes away.
• Upset stomach.
• Diarrhea.
• Pain in joints and belly.
• Peeling skin on hands and feet.

Stage 3 (Convalescent)

• Symptoms go away slowly, but complications can continue.

What tests will be done to diagnose Kawasaki disease?

There’s no test that can directly detect Kawasaki disease. But healthcare providers can do tests that support a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease or rule out other possible illnesses.

They may order:

• Blood tests.
• Urinalysis.
• Echocardiogram, which uses an ultrasound wand on the surface of the chest to view your child’s heart and arteries.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG), a noninvasive test that measures the rhythm in your child’s heart.
• CT (computed tomography) angiogram, using X-rays and a computer.
• MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram), using an MRI.