Kawasaki Disease Mnemonic:
Kawasaki Disease is one of the pediatric rashes that you always need to have in the back of your mind. Kawasaki disease causes inflammation in the walls of medium-sized arteries throughout the body, including the coronary arteries, which are the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Kawasaki disease is also called mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome because it also affects lymph nodes, skin, and the mucous membranes inside the mouth, nose and throat.
CRASH & Burn is a mnemonic to help remember the signs and symptoms of Kawasaki.
– Conjunctivitis (non-purulent)
– Rash
– Adenopathy (cervical and commonly unilateral)
– Strawberry tongue
– Hands (palmar erythema/swelling)
&
– Burn (fever lasting at least 5 days or more)
The child does not need all 4 as he or she is sitting in front of you, but the presentation and the history combined should include those criteria.
Treatment is with high doses Aspirin and IVIG.
Also, since Kawazaki disease can lead to other complications such as coronary artery aneurysms and myocarditis, it is best to get an echocardiogram to look for these complications.