Abstractobjective-We sought to define the characteristics that distinguish Kawasaki disease shock syndrome from hemodynamically normal Kawasaki disease. methods-We collected data prospectively for all patients with Kawasaki disease who were treated at a single institution during a 4-year period. We defined Kawasaki disease shock syndrome on the basis of systolic hypotension for age, a sustained decrease in systolic blood pressure from baseline of ≥20%, or clinical signs of poor perfusion. We compared clinical and laboratory features, coronary artery measurements, and responses to therapy and analyzed indices of ventricular systolic and diastolic function during acute and convalescent Kawasaki disease. results-Of 187 consecutive patients with Kawasaki disease, 13 (7%) met the definition for Kawasaki disease shock syndrome. All received fluid resuscitation, and 7 (54%) required vasoactive infusions. Compared with patients without shock, patients with Kawasaki disease shock syndrome were more often female and had larger proportions of bands, higher C-reactive protein concentrations, and lower hemoglobin concentrations and platelet counts. Evidence of consumptive coagulopathy was common in the Kawasaki disease shock syndrome group. Patients with Kawasaki disease shock syndrome more often had impaired left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction of <54%: 4 of 13 patients [31%] conclusions-Kawasaki disease shock syndrome is associated with more-severe laboratory markers of inflammation and greater risk of coronary artery abnormalities, mitral regurgitation, and prolonged myocardial dysfunction. These patients may be resistant to immunoglobulin therapy and require additional antiinflammatory treatment. KeywordsKawasaki disease (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome); shock; echocardiography; ventricular function What's Known on This SubjectAlthough the cardiac complications of KD are well known, hemodynamic instability is unusual in the acute phase of illness, except as a complication of intravenous IVIG administration. What This Study AddsWe have observed shock and hypotension with increasing frequency in newly diagnosed KD. Compared with hemodynamically normal KD, KDSS is associated with increased inflammation, platelet consumption, IVIG resistance, coronary artery abnormalities, mitral regurgitation, and myocardial dysfunction.KAWASAKI disease (KD) is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in the pediatric age group and results in permanent damage to the coronary arteries in up to 25% of untreated children. Although no patients with KD presented with shock in the prospective database before 2003, we postulated that earlier cases might have been misdiagnosed and therefore never included in our database. To identify patients with KD who were treated for shock but were misclassified with other diagnoses, we conducted a computerized search, on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes, for patients discharged from the critical care unit between January 1, 2001, and Augus...

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SummaryBackground Kawasaki disease, the most common cause of acquired heart disease in developed countries, is a self-limited vasculitis that is treated with high doses of intravenous immunoglobulin. Resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin in Kawasaki disease increases the risk of coronary artery aneurysms. We assessed whether the addition of infl iximab to standard therapy (intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin) in acute Kawasaki disease reduces the rate of treatment resistance.

In a sample of pediatric ED patients with difficult access, ultrasound-guided intravenous cannulation required less overall time, fewer attempts, and fewer needle redirections than traditional approaches.

This large multicenter study validates the Bacterial Meningitis Score prediction rule in the era of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine as an accurate decision support tool. The risk of bacterial meningitis is very low (0.1%) in patients with none of the criteria. The Bacterial Meningitis Score may be helpful to guide clinical decision making for the management of children presenting to emergency departments with CSF pleocytosis.

Key Points Question Can Kawasaki disease be accurately diagnosed on the basis of the pattern of host gene expression in whole blood? Findings In this case-control study of 606 children (404 in the discovery cohort; 202 in the validation cohort), a 13-transcript signature was identified that accurately discriminated Kawasaki disease from comparator febrile diseases in discovery and validation cohorts. Meaning A diagnostic blood test based on measurement of small numbers of host gene transcripts might enable early discrimination of Kawasaki disease from other infectious and inflammatory conditions.

In patients with bacterial meningitis, antibiotic pretreatment is associated with higher cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels and lower cerebrospinal fluid protein levels, although pretreatment does not modify cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count or absolute neutrophil count results.

Objective To identify characteristics differentiating the node-first presentation of Kawasaki disease (NFKD) from bacterial cervical lymphadenitis (BCL) and typical Kawasaki disease (KD). Study design From our prospectively collected database, we compared clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics of NFKD and BCL cohorts and performed multivariable logistic regression to identify variables that distinguish NFKD from BCL. We then compared outcomes of NFKD and patients with typical KD treated during the same period. Results Over 7 years, 57 patients were hospitalized for NFKD, 78 for BCL, and 287 for typical KD. Patients with NFKD were older and had more medical encounters and longer duration of illness prior to correct diagnosis than patients with BCL. Of patients with NFKD, 33% had an admission diagnosis of bacterial adenitis or abscess. Compared with patients with BCL, patients with NFKD had lower leukocyte (WBC), hemoglobin, and platelet counts and higher absolute band counts (ABC), C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine transaminase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. In the multivariable analysis, smaller nodes, lower WBC, and higher ABC and CRP were independently associated with NFKD. Patients with NFKD had multiple enlarged solid nodes and comparable rates of retropharyngeal edema. Compared with patients with typical KD, patients with NFKD were older, had more severe inflammation, and had similar rates of coronary artery abnormalities and resistance to intravenous immune globulin. Conclusions High ABC and CRP values and multiple enlarged solid nodes in febrile patients with cervical adenopathy should prompt consideration of NFKD to prevent delayed diagnosis of KD. Retropharyngeal edema on radiography should not dissuade from the diagnosis of NFKD.