Kawasaki disease

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. an acute illness of unknown cause, occurring primarily in children, characterized by high fever, swollen lymph glands, rash, redness in mouth and throat, and joint pain.

---

Etymology

Origin of Kawasaki disease

1980–85; after Japanese pediatrician Tomisaku Kawasaki, who first described it

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Kawasaki disease

Ashleigh McGeogh's two-year-old daughter Delilah was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease - a condition that is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in UK children - after 10 days of illness.

From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026

Here are the important things to know about Kawasaki disease.

From New York Times ● Feb. 27, 2024

The syndrome appears to have some similarities with Kawasaki disease and can cause problems with a child’s heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 26, 2021

Although children who survive Kawasaki disease have a higher risk of long-term heart problems, doctors don’t know how MIS-C survivors will fare.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 22, 2021

They’ve learned that—contrary to some early suspicions—it appears distinct from Kawasaki disease, a rare inflammatory reaction thought to strike young children after unknown infections.

From Science Magazine ● Mar. 18, 2021