Clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease according to age at diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE

We compared the clinical, laboratory and diagnostic features of Kawasaki disease (KD) in children <6 mo and >5 y of age to those in the more typical age range at diagnosis (6 mo-5 y of age).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

Severeance Children Hospital attached to a Medical School, Korea.

METHODS

All children with a discharge diagnosis of KD at Severance Childrens Hospital (2006-2007) were retrospectively reviewed and grouped according to age at presentation in 3 groups: <6 mo, 6 mo-5 y and >5 years. Clinical, hematological, and biochemical features and involvement of coronary artery and proportion of Classic vs. Incomplete KD were compared between the 3 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 185 children were identified. Complete KD was found in 63 (34%) children and Incomplete KD in 122 (66%). There was 22(12%) children below 6 months of age, 131 (71%) between 6 months to 5 years) and 32 (17%) above 5 years of age. Clinical, hematological and biochemical features were comparable between the three age groups. Overall, coronary artery lesions occurred in 9% children without any preference for age. The proportion of Classical vs. Incomplete KD was also similar in the three age categories.

CONCLUSION

The clinical and laboratory phenotype of KD does not vary significantly with age.