SNP Shot: Genomic Insights

Kawasaki disease is an acute illness primarily affecting infants and young children. Its symptoms include a persistent fever lasting several days, a skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck (cervical lymphadenopathy). Additional signs are redness of the eyes (conjunctivitis), and redness (erythema) of the lips, the lining of the mouth (oral mucosa), the tongue, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet.

If left untreated, Kawasaki disease can lead to serious heart complications in 15 to 25 percent of cases. These complications include the development of coronary artery aneurysms (bulging and weakening of the arteries supplying blood to the heart) and other damage to the coronary arteries, which can be life-threatening.

Inheritance:

While the exact inheritance pattern is unclear, a genetic predisposition to Kawasaki disease seems to run in families. Individuals with a parent who has had Kawasaki disease are twice as likely to develop the condition compared to the general population. Furthermore, children with siblings who have the disease face a tenfold increased risk.