Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute multisystem vasculitis of unknown etiology that has largely replaced rheumatic fever as a cause of acquired heart disease in children of many developed countries and is apparently under diagnosed in the developing world.

We present our series of 18 cases fulfilling the diagnostic criteria in the age group of 1-15 years with male preponderance. The clinico-demographic profile is discussed. Only one child presented with myocarditis and congestive cardiac failure which recovered completely at the 6 month follow-up. Coronary arteries were not involved in any case.

Though KD occurs world wide and affects children of all races, with Asians at highest risk, our series highlight the fact that cardiac complications are less commonly seen in Indian children.

RCIAPCON 2005 - Conference Abstracts.Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2006 [cited 15 June 2006(Supplement 6)];3. Available from:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/
kawasaki_disease_karnataka.asp