Health and Me

Ishita Srivastava

UK Toddler Dies Of Rare Kawasaki Disease: What You Need To Know

A two-year-old boy from Bristol, UK has died from a rare heart disease, known to mostly affect children with only flu-like symptoms, on January 8.

Hudson Martin had been diagnosed with <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/kawasaki-disease">Kawasaki disease</a> when he was seven months old and was placed on lifelong medication including aspirin and blood thinners to reduce the risk of clots. Since then, he had been living a normal and happy life, according to father Damien Martin.

He told <a href="https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-toddler-dies-suddenly-home-10751867" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank">Bristol Live</a>: "You’d never know anything was wrong from pictures or videos. He bounced off everything. He loved climbing, dancing, music, he was a proper daredevil."

But days before his third birthday, he suddenly collapsed while playing at home. Despite being given CPR by paramedics for an hour, his heart did not restart and he passed away. 

“They did absolutely everything they could,” Damien said. "His heart just wouldn't come back."

Also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, Kawasaki disease causes inflammation in the walls of small to medium-sized blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body which can damage to the heart and blood vessels, mostly in children younger than five years old. 

When this happens, the heart doesn't work as well to pump blood to the body and could burst (coronary artery dilation and aneurysms). It also causes swelling in the lymph nodes and mucous membranes inside the mouth, nose, eyes and throat. 

Apart from a 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) fever that can last for five days, children with Kawasaki may also experience some or all of the following symptoms:

<ul><li>Rash on the main part of the body or in the genital area<ul></ul></li><li>Swelling and redness of their hands and feet<ul></ul></li><li>Irritation and redness of the whites of their eyes<ul></ul></li><li>Swollen lymph glands in the neck<ul></ul></li><li>Irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat</li></ul>

It remains unknown what causes Kawasaki disease in children and if it affects adults. 

Diagnosis involves ruling out other diseases that cause the same symptoms which include:

<ul><li>Scarlet fever</li><li>Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis</li><li>Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a disorder of the mucous membranes)</li><li>Toxic shock syndrome</li><li>Measles</li><li>Some illnesses caused by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever</li></ul>

While this non-contagious disease can be treated with a mixture of antibodies given through the veins (intravenous immunoglobulin) and aspirin, it remains uncurable. Doctors may also advice steroids if intravenous immunoglobulin is not effective.

After receiving treatment for Kawasaki disease, most children recover fully and long-term follow-up care remains unnecessary. However, children who have suffered through aneurysms or other complications related to the disease will need lifelong monitoring with a cardiologist.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

Kawasaki Disease

Hudson Martin

Bristol

Heart Failure

aspirin

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A two-year-old boy from Bristol, UK has died from a rare heart disease, known to mostly affect children with only flu-like symptoms, on January 8. Hudson Martin had been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease when he was seven months old and was placed on lifelong medication including aspirin and blood thinners to reduce the risk of clots. Since then, he had been living a normal and happy life, according to father Damien Martin. He told  Bristol Live: "You’d never know anything was wrong from pictures or videos. He bounced off everything. He loved climbing, dancing, music, he was a proper daredevil."But days before his third birthday, he suddenly collapsed while playing at home. Despite being given CPR by paramedics for an hour, his heart did not restart and he passed away. “They did absolutely everything they could,” Damien said. "His heart just wouldn't come back."What Is Kawasaki Disease?Also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, Kawasaki disease causes inflammation in the walls of small to medium-sized blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body which can damage to the heart and blood vessels, mostly in children younger than five years old. When this happens, the heart doesn't work as well to pump blood to the body and could burst (coronary artery dilation and aneurysms). It also causes swelling in the lymph nodes and mucous membranes inside the mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Apart from a 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) fever that can last for five days, children with Kawasaki may also experience some or all of the following symptoms:Rash on the main part of the body or in the genital areaSwelling and redness of their hands and feetIrritation and redness of the whites of their eyesSwollen lymph glands in the neckIrritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throatIt remains unknown what causes Kawasaki disease in children and if it affects adults. Diagnosis involves ruling out other diseases that cause the same symptoms which include:Scarlet feverJuvenile rheumatoid arthritisStevens-Johnson syndrome (a disorder of the mucous membranes)Toxic shock syndromeMeaslesSome illnesses caused by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain spotted feverIs It Curable?While this non-contagious disease can be treated with a mixture of antibodies given through the veins (intravenous immunoglobulin) and aspirin, it remains uncurable. Doctors may also advice steroids if intravenous immunoglobulin is not effective.After receiving treatment for Kawasaki disease, most children recover fully and long-term follow-up care remains unnecessary. However, children who have suffered through aneurysms or other complications related to the disease will need lifelong monitoring with a cardiologist. 