Head and neck manifestations of Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease resembling a retropharyngeal abscess — Case report and literature review

“…The rate of cervical lymphadenopathy occurring as the initial presenting symptom is only approximately 12% [4]. Massive lymphadenopathy may prompt an initial diagnosis of lymphadenitis, so the diagnosis of KD in those children can be more difficult and is usually delayed [5].…”

Atypical presentation of Kawasaki disease in young infants mimicking a retropharyngeal abscess

“…A deep-neck-space-infection-like symptom was found in approximately 5%of head and neck manifestations in KD patients [2]. However, we believe that the true incidence of atypical retropharyngeal abscess-like lesion is most likely underestimated because CT of neck is not routinely obtained in all patients diagnosed with KD.…”

“…Ninety percent of KD patients present with head and neck manifestations (e.g., facial exanthema, conjunctivitis, oral mucosal changes, strawberry tongue, and pharyngitis). Other uncommon otolaryngological presentations are otitis media, torticollis, deep-neck-space-infection-like symptom, meningismus, and acute tonsillitis [2]. Interestingly, these uncommon head and neck manifestations can mimic other inflammatory or infectious processes and may lead to an incorrect or delayed diagnosis.…”

Kawasaki Disease; A Review Article

“…It is usually found as a unilateral, firm and non-fluctuant node with a diameter greater than 1.5 cm, during acute phase of the disease. The cervical adenopathy needs to be considered in children who are not responding to antibiotic therapy (17). When fever and other signs of acute phase start to vanish the subacute phase initiates.…”