The perineal eruption of Kawasaki syndrome.

The occurrence of a distinctive perineal eruption that appears in infants and children early in the course of Kawasaki syndrome has received little attention in the medical literature. Medical records of patients hospitalized during the acute phase of Kawasaki syndrome were reviewed to evaluate the prevalence of an erythematous, desquamating perineal eruption. The frequency of this eruption was compared with the syndrome's other diagnostic criteria. Thirty-nine (67%) of the 58 patients who fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of Kawasaki syndrome had documentation of the perineal rash that usually occurred in the first week of onset of symptoms. No statistically significant differences were found in the frequency of coronary artery aneurysms. We believe that an erythematous, desquamating perineal rash is a valuable early clinical finding facilitating a more rapid diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki syndrome.