Kawasaki Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Kawasaki Disease?
A pediatrician, a doctor for children, often spots Kawasaki disease first. Care is usually led by a pediatric cardiologist, a children's heart doctor, because the disease can harm the heart's blood vessels. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is Kawasaki disease?
Kawasaki disease is a rare illness that usually affects small children. It is a type of vasculitis, which means inflammation of the blood vessels. The disease is also called Kawasaki syndrome.
The disease is serious. Most children recover with proper treatment.
Symptoms
Children with Kawasaki disease have a fever that typically lasts for 5 days or longer. Other symptoms may include:
- A rash, often on the back, chest, and groin.
- Swollen hands and feet.
- Redness of the lips, lining of the mouth, tongue, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet.
- Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Sometimes the disease affects the walls of the coronary arteries. These are the arteries that bring blood and oxygen to the heart. This can lead to an aneurysm, which is a bulging and thinning of the artery wall. An aneurysm can raise the risk of blood clots. Untreated clots could lead to a heart attack or internal bleeding. The disease can also cause inflammation in the heart and heart valve problems.
Some children have atypical or incomplete Kawasaki disease. Their illness does not meet all the usual criteria, but they have fever and concerns about the coronary arteries.
Causes and who gets it
Kawasaki disease happens when the immune system injures the blood vessels by mistake. Researchers do not fully know why this happens. Genes may play a role. Environmental factors, such as infections, may also play a role. It does not seem to be contagious, so it cannot be passed from one child to another.
It usually affects children under the age of 5. Older children and adults can sometimes get it. It is more common in boys than girls. Children of Asian or Pacific Islander descent are more likely to get it.
Illnesses that look like Kawasaki disease have been reported after infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. This is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C.
How doctors diagnose it
There is no specific test for Kawasaki disease. The child's doctor does a physical exam and looks at the signs and symptoms. Blood and urine tests help rule out other diseases and check for signs of inflammation. Heart tests, such as an echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram (EKG), check for heart damage.
Treatment
Treatment must be given at the hospital. Children are usually given immunoglobulin (IVIG) through a vein. IVIG is made of antibodies, which are proteins that your immune system makes to fight infections. Aspirin may also be part of the treatment. Treatment can make symptoms less severe and lower the risk of serious problems.
Do not give your child aspirin unless the health care provider tells you to. Aspirin can cause Reye syndrome in children. This is a rare, serious illness that can affect the brain and liver.
If treatment is not working well enough, the provider may give other medicines to fight the inflammation. If the heart is affected, a child might need more medicines, surgery, or other procedures.
When to see a doctor
Contact your child's health care provider if your child has a fever for 4 days, especially with any other symptoms of Kawasaki disease.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your child has chest pain, trouble or abnormal breathing, bluish or gray skin, fainting or loss of consciousness, or a seizure.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can take a first look at a child with a long fever and help coordinate care with hospital and heart specialists.
Common questions
Is Kawasaki disease contagious?
No, it does not seem to be contagious. This means it cannot be passed from one child to another.
Can adults get Kawasaki disease?
Yes, older children and adults can sometimes get it. The disease usually affects children under the age of 5.
Is Kawasaki disease serious?
Yes, it is serious. It can damage the heart and blood vessels, but most children recover with proper treatment.
Can I give my child aspirin for Kawasaki disease?
No, not unless your child's health care provider tells you to. Aspirin can cause Reye syndrome in children, a rare, serious illness that can affect the brain and liver.
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
