Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Children with Kawasaki Disease in Isfahan, Iran

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that generally affects children. Patients with KD do not show all typical clinical symptoms of the disease.

Considering various studies in diagnosing the gastrointestinal symptoms of KD and the lack of similar studies in Iran, we aimed to investigate the frequency of gastrointestinal problems in patients with KD who referred to Imam Hossein hospital of Isfahan from 2012 to 2017.

In a retrospective cross-sectional study, we examined the medical records of all 1 - 14-year-old patients with KD who were hospitalized from 2012 to 2017. The inclusion criteria included patients with a definite diagnosis of complete or incomplete KD, a hospitalization record in Imam Hossein children hospital, and no other systemic disorders. In the case of incomplete information, the patient’s record was excluded from the study.

A considerable percentage of KD patients presented with the complaint of gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain (17.4%), diarrhea (16.9%), and vomiting (28.9%). None of the patients had fecal occult blood or abnormal stool examination and evidence of pancreatitis.

The most prevalent gastrointestinal symptoms were vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If the diagnosis of KD is made early in KD patients complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms, unnecessary diagnostic procedures will be omitted, and the economic burden will be reduced on society and family.