Kawasaki disease occurs most frequently in Japan, where the
disease was first discovered. In the United States, after
congenital heart defects, Kawasaki disease is the leading cause
of heart disease in children. Most of these patients are younger
than age 5. The disease occurs more often in boys than in girls.
Kawasaki disease is a poorly understood illness. The cause has
not been determined. It may be an autoimmune disorder. The
disorder affects the mucus membranes, lymph nodes, walls of the
blood vessels, and the heart. Kawasaki disease can cause
inflammation of blood vessels in the arteries, especially the
coronary arteries. This inflammation can lead to aneurysms. An
aneurysm can lead to a heart attack, even in young children,
although this is rare. Kawasaki disease often begins with a high
and persistent fever greater than 102 °F, often as high as 104
°F. A persistent fever lasting at least 5 days is considered a
classic sign. The fever may last for up to 2 weeks and does not
usually go away with normal