Kawasaki Disease | Diagnosis & Tests

How does my doctor know my child has Kawasaki disease?

Your doctor has given your child an exam and asked about his or her symptoms. There isn't a special test for Kawasaki disease, but your doctor may do some tests to see if another illness could be causing the symptoms.

Children who have Kawasaki disease have a fever (sometimes as high as 104°F) for 5 days or longer. Usually, they also have at least 4 of the following symptoms:

• A red, patchy rash that may cover the whole body
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Swollen and red hands and feet and, later in the illness, peeling skin on the fingers and toes
• Changes in the lips and mouth, such as red, cracked lips, a very red tongue and redness in the mouth and the back of the throat
• Red, bloodshot eyes

Some children who have Kawasaki disease also have diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. Kawasaki disease might make your child very irritable and cross.