A list of medical terminology
associated with Kawasaki disease with definitions in plain English and links to
more detailed information.
Symptoms:
Inflammation
– inflammation
is the protective result of some kind of cellular damage in the body and is
marked by redness, swelling, and pain. When
this inflammation occurs in the blood vessels, it is called vasculitis. In Kawasaki disease,
the small to medium blood vessels through the body may experience inflammation,
particularly in the coronary arteries of the heart. Inflammation can also be seen by the chapped
lips, strawberry tongue, rash, and reddened palms and soles.
Conjunctiva
– the conjunctiva
is a thin membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelid and the white
part of the eyeball.
Nonexudative
Bilateral Conjunctivitis – this is a fancy way of saying the eyes are
red. Conjunctivitis
is inflammation of the conjunctiva; nonexudative
means there is no puss or fluid; and bilateral means the redness occurs in both
eyes.
Anterior
Uveitis – anterior
uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.
Oropharyngeal
changes - oropharyngeal
refers to the changes in the lips, mouth, and tongue. In KD this
includes chapped, cracked lips and strawberry tongue.
Strawberry
Tongue – with strawberry tongue, inflammation
can cause the tongue to become a deep red color and have small, raised bumps –
eerily resembling a strawberry.
Lip
Fissures – lip fissures refer to
cracked lips.
Lymphadenopathy
– lymphadenopathy
is the swelling of a lymph node. During KD,
lymphadenopathy occurs most frequently in one of the lymph nodes of the
neck.
Polymorphous
Rash – a rash often accompanies
Kawasaki disease, most often found on the trunk of the body. Polymorphous refers to the fact that the rash can look different on different
people.
Exanthem
– exanthema
is a skin disruption (fancy word for rash) that is usually accompanied by
fever, like in Kawasaki disease.
Erythema
– erythema is
a fancy word for redness.
Edema
– edema
is a fancy word for swelling caused by excess fluid. In KD, erythema and
edema on the hands and feet are a classic symptom.
Desquamation
– desquamation
is a fancy word for the peeling or shedding of the skin. In the later stages of Kawasaki disease, peeling
of the skin on the hands and feet may occur.
Beau’s
Lines – Beau’s lines
are horizontal depressions or grooves in the surface of the nails. Beau’s lines
can occur 1-2 months after the initial fever of Kawasaki disease.
Perianal
Erythema – perianal
erythema refers to redness around the anus.
Laboratory
Terminology:
Urinalysis
– a urinalysis
is a test that evaluates a sample of urine.
In
KD, a urinalysis may show sterile pyuria, pus, or protein in the
urine.
Sterile
Pyuria – sterile
pyuria is the presence of elevated white blood cells found during a
urinalysis.
Acute-Phase
Reactants – acute-phase
reactants are substances in the blood (proteins) that will increase when
something is wrong in the body – like during an infection, injury, or
trauma. In Kawasaki disease,
acute-phase reactants are almost universally elevated at first and usually
return to normal 6-10 weeks after the onset of the illness. These reactants may be measured with various
blood tests, including ESR and CRP.
ESR/SED – ESR stands for Erythrocyte
Sedimentation Rate and can also be referred to as SED rate. This is a blood test that will indirectly
measure the amount of inflammation in the body – it will measure the
acute-phase reactants, which means that the SED rate will usually be elevated
during the beginning phases of Kawasaki disease.
CRP
– CRP stands for C-reactive
Protein Levels. This is another
blood test that will show if there is inflammation in the body and may be
elevated during KD.
Alpha1-Antitrypsin – Alphal-Antitypsin
(AAT) is a protein – an acute-phase reactant – found in the blood that may
increase during the inflammation found in Kawasaki disease.
Meprin
A and Filamin C – These are 2 urine proteins
that researchers have linked to KD as possible biomarkers of Kawasaki disease.
CBC
– CBC stands for Complete
Blood Count. This blood test will
measure a great deal of things including:
Red blood cells,
which carry oxygen
White blood cells,
which fight infection
Hemoglobin, the
oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells
Hematocrit, the proportion of red blood
cells to the fluid component, or plasma, in your blood
Platelets, which
help with blood clotting
During the acute phase of Kawasaki disease,
a CBC may show an elevated white blood count (WBC), elevated platelet count,
and/or normochromic anemia.
Normochromic
Anemia – Anemia
is a lack of the proper amount of red blood cells. There are many different kinds of anemia; in
Kawasaki disease, normochromic anemia may be found. This type of anemia
occurs when
the hemoglobin content of the red cells as measured by the MCHC is in the
normal range.
ECG
– an ECG (or EKG) is short for Electrocardiogram. This
test uses electrodes attached to the skin to measure the electrical impulses of
your child's heartbeat. It is noninvasive
and painless, although you will have to remove the sticky circles from the skin
after the test.
Echo
– an echo refers to an Echocardiogram. This
test uses ultrasound images to show how well the heart is functioning and
provides indirect evidence on how the coronary arteries are functioning. This is one of the most
important tests performed during a Kawasaki disease diagnosis.
Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI)
– an MRI
creates an image of the body or part of the body using powerful magnets and
radio waves. It can be used to get a
clearer image of coronary
artery damage associated with Kawasaki disease.
Computed
Tomography (CT) – a CT or CAT scan is a
special x-ray that takes many cross-section images of the body or part of the
body. It can be used to get a clearer
image of coronary
artery damage associated with Kawasaki disease.
Cardiac
Angiography – cardiac
angiography is a procedure that guides a special dye, aided by x-ray,
through the arteries of the heart. It is
often done in conjunction with cardiac catheterization.
Cardiac
Catheterization – cardiac
catheterization involves the insertion of a small tube – a catheter – into
one side of the heart. Many diagnostic
tests can be performed during a cardiac catheterization. With Kawasaki disease,
angiography and catheterization are only performed when there are complications
such as coronary artery aneurysms.
Heart
Complications:
Coronary
Artery – Coronary arteries run along
the outside of the heart and are responsible for providing oxygen-rich blood to
the heart muscle. Coronary artery
aneurysms are the most common serious complication involved with Kawasaki
disease.
Aneurysm
– An aneurysm
is a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel which causes an outpouching or
bulge. Aneurysms may be fatal if these weak areas burst, resulting in
uncontrollable bleeding.
Arrhythmia
– An arrhythmia
is any deviation from a normal heart beat.
Arteritis
– arteritis
is inflammation of an artery.
Thrombocytosis
– thrombocytosis
is a condition where your body produces too many platelets.
Cardiomegaly
– cardiomegaly
is an enlarged heart.
Myocarditis
– myocarditis
is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium).
Pericarditis
– pericarditis
causes swelling and irritation of the pericardium – a thin membrane that
surrounds your heart.
Myocardial
Infarction – a myocardial infarction
is a heart attack.
For more information on Kawasaki
disease, check out the Kawasaki
Disease Resource List.