KAWASAKI-DISEASE - THE NORTHERN-IRELAND EXPERIENCE

In the period 1985-1991 inclusive, forty rive cases of Kawasaki Diseas e were identified in Northern Ireland. The number of cases increased e ach year until 1988 when the incidence was 19 per million population u nder 16 years, the highest reported for any region in the United Kingd om (data from British Paediatric Surveillance Unit). A high incidence of cardiac involvement was found, with 18(40%) having proximal coronar y artery dilatation or aneurysm. and 8(17.7%) with pericardial effusio n detected by 2D Echocardiography during or shortly after the acute il lness. One year after disease onset, persistent coronary artery change s were detectable by 2D Echocardiography in 53% of those initially aff ected. There have been no deaths and no patient has so far developed m yocardial infarction. One patient has required coronary artery bypass grafting. A protocol for the acute management and long term follow-up of Kawasaki Disease is suggested.