The importance in ciinicai practice
It is important to consider a diagnosis of KD in the primary
care setting, as the development of cardiac complications is only
reduced when intravenous immunoglobulin is administered
within a critical time frame (a maximum of 10 days)
from the onset of the illness. In left untreated, KD cardiac
complications, most commonly coronary artery dilatation
and aneurysms, wiU develop in up to 40% of patients (Brogan
et al, 2002) and can cause death or long-term morbidity.
The outcome of KD is unaffected by antibiotic medication,
which is the treatment that patients vfith acute febrile illness
are most likely to receive. ImmunoglobuHn is a costly and
relatively hazardous medication that is most unlikely to be
given unless KD is considered.