Kawasaki Disease, also called hibachi virus disease, is a fatal viral infection caused by infection with enteroviruses, a genus of viruses. The name, hibachi, means “hare” in Japanese. Affected individuals may experience flu-like symptoms such as headache, muscle soreness, fever, joint pain, and loss of appetite or weight. These symptoms generally last for about one week and may occasionally present themselves in more severe forms. One rare type of hibachi disease is known as severe khibarriasis, which causes ulcers and lesions, bone deterioration, blindness, kidney failure, paralysis, and death. This condition usually appears between the ages of one and fifteen years.
The most common symptom associated with Kawasaki diseases is a high temperature that usually rises and falls rapidly (marked fever). Some individuals may also experience diarrhea, vomiting, a reduced amount of appetite, or anemia. If these symptoms persist for more than a week, you should have your doctor check you out. In some cases, your doctor will perform a heart test called spirometry, in order to assess your heart’s response to a perceived physical challenge. In most cases, once your heart is checked, your doctor will move on to monitor the progress and progression of your Kawasaki disease through various types of medical and non-medical treatments.
There are different types of treatment options available for those with Kawasaki disease. The first option is surgery, which involves a procedure that removes a portion of the heart muscle or completely removes the sick person’s ability to perform normal functions. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, this surgery may be accompanied by a hospital stay, intravenous nutrition, and antibiotics, or life support medications. A healthy donor heart can be used for surgery patients who do not have enough heart muscle to sustain them while they are recovering.
Another treatment option for Kawasaki disease is immunotherapy or the administration of medications to fight off the illness. This option has shown some promise in reducing symptoms in some patients, though it has not been proven in all cases. It generally works best when administered prior to the onset of symptoms in order to limit the amount of damage that the illness can do to your lymph nodes and other organs and tissue. In recent years, new drugs called aminosalazine and cisapride have shown promising results in research trials with regard to kd.
There is also experimental therapy for those with Kawasaki disease, as well as for people with the syndrome who have already developed it. This type of treatment has not been extensively tested and is not a mainstream method of treating Kawasaki syndrome. However, the Japanese Government is currently researching the use of vitamin and mineral supplements in treating the disease. The effects of these vitamins and minerals on the immune system and the body’s ability to fight off illnesses are still being studied.
Like any other kind of illness, it is important to know what causes this disease so you can avoid it. One of the possible triggers for Kawasaki disease in young children is congenital infections and birth defects, as well as exposure to toxic substances. It has also been suspected that environmental toxins may be a cause of the syndrome. As with any other type of fever, you should consult your doctor and not self-diagnose.
Treatment of Kawasaki disease usually involves a combination of medicine and surgery. Your doctor will probably begin with an evaluation of your child’s presenting symptoms. During this first stage, IVIG (Intravenous Liquid Immune Globulin) may be administered, or a combination of liquid vitamins and a tablet such as Accutane (isotretinoin). The purpose of IVIG is to provide your child with adequate amounts of fluids to compensate for the lack of solid tissue in the intestines. Surgical options include placement of resection or removal of part of the thymus gland (called a microsurgical resection), removal of part of the testes, or removal of the spleen.
Treatment of Kawasaki disease usually does not stop once the medication has been given; in some cases, additional medications such as steroids are needed to reduce the severity of the disease. Once the swelling has ceased and the heart has begun to function properly, the normal cardiovascular function should resume. However, as with any organ, once the function of the heart has been restored, a decreased risk of sudden death or disability will need to be considered.