The pediatric cardiology and congenital heart disease subspecialist doctor said Kawasaki disease is different from heart disease that usually affects adults, called coronary heart disease (CHD). If Kawasaki disease is not treated properly, it can cause complications of dilation of the coronary arteries, which has the potential to cause a buildup of blood clots in the coronary arteries and eventually block the coronary arteries completely.
The symptoms caused will resemble the symptoms of a heart attack in adult patients, namely chest pain like being hit by a heavy object and if not quickly helped can be fatal.
The commonly used treatment for Kawasaki disease involves a combination of high-dose aspirin given until the fever subsides and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which is recommended by the American Heart Association. The therapy aims to reduce inflammation, prevent complications, and speed up recovery.
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“In the treatment of Kawasaki, IVIG is given in high doses via intravenous infusion to reduce inflammation and prevent the development of coronary aneurysms. IVIG administration is usually done only once, usually for 10-12 hours,” said the doctor who graduated from the University of North Sumatra.
Aditya said with proper treatment, most children with Kawasaki disease will recover fully without long-term complications.
Taking data from Japan, he said of 26,691 patients, there were 4 (0.015 percent) cases of death due to Kawasaki disease in 2011-2012. Meanwhile, data from the United States shows a slightly higher mortality rate than Japan, which is around 0.17 percent.
Deaths in both countries occurred due to the most common serious complication, namely the formation of coronary aneurysms, widening and swelling of the heart’s blood vessels. Aditya said coronary aneurysms can increase the risk of heart disease and require long-term monitoring by a cardiologist.
The prognosis of Kawasaki disease, according to Aditya, is also influenced by other factors, such as age at onset of the disease (infants under 1 year old have a higher risk of complications), the presence of cardiovascular complications, and the timing of appropriate treatment. If a coronary aneurysm forms, appropriate treatment and follow-up is essential to monitor and manage the condition of the heart.