How to Diagnose Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease typically affects children under 5 years of age. The body's blood vessels swell with this illness. No specific laboratory test can diagnose it with 100% accuracy; however, symptoms can be used to identify it. Here is a list of criteria for diagnosis in the order of occurrence.

Instructions

• 1

  Have a fever for at least 5 days straight. Your doctor wants to see a child with a fever of this duration so he can rule out this condition. If it goes untreated, the fever can last up to 11 days.

• 2

  Know the visual symptoms to help diagnose Kawasaki disease. A rash appears on the palms of your child's hands and soles of his feet. His skin will begin to peel from his fingertips.

• 3

  Check out the eyes and lips. They both would be irritated with the whites of the eyes appearing reddish, similar to pink eye. The lips will also appear red.

• 4

  Look for swelling and inflammation. The neck lymph nodes swell and the mouth, lips and throat become inflamed and irritated along with a general body rash. The rash could have mildly raised spots.