Epidemiological features of Kawasaki disease in Korea, 2006–2008

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and describe the epidemiological characteristics of Kawasaki disease among children in Korea. Methods: Questionnaires for surveying the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease were distributed to a total of 101 hospitals that conduct pediatric residency programs. Then, we retrospectively obtained the data, which covered a three-year period (2006)(2007)(2008) The seasonal distribution showed a slightly higher incidence rate in winter and summer. The patients' mean age of onset was 32.6 months, while the proportions of sibling cases and recurrent cases were 0.17% and 2.2%, respectively. Coronary arterial abnormalities were detected during follow up by echocardiogram in 17.5% of all cases including dilatations (16.4%) and aneurysms (2.1%). Conclusions:The average annual incidence rate of Kawasaki disease in Korea has been continuously increasing, and reached 113.1/100 000 children <5 years old, which is the second highest rate in the world.

Kawasaki disease in children: Epidemiology, clinical symptoms and diagnostics of 231 cases in 10 years

“…In the present study, 63.20% of the total 231 patients with KD were found to have coronary artery disease, which is similar to the result from Jilin (63.26%) during the same period, while generally higher than the results from the rest of the country and significantly higher than those from Japan (31) and South Korea (32). Notably, fever was the most common clinical observation in the primary diagnosis of patients with KD and with a risk of coronary artery disease; this was attributed to the scattered residence of patients living in Inner Mongolia, as well as the limited medical care available to these patients, leading to a delay in treatment and the aggravation of disease.…”

Genetics of Kawasaki Disease

“…4 The annual incidence in Japan is more than 10-fold higher than in the US (20.8) 5 and UK (8.4). 6 It is higher in East Asian countries, and Korea (113.1) 7 and Taiwan (69.0) 8 have the second and the third highest annual incidence of KD. These data give the impression that KD is a type of endemic disease or a disease related to a lifestyle common in East Asian populations.…”

The Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Kawasaki Disease in Australia

“…1 Kawasaki disease is described in most populations worldwide with remarkably similar epidemiologic and clinical features. The incidence varies widely, with the highest rates in Japan (239.6 per 100 000 ,5 years of age), 2 Korea (113.1 per 100 000 ,5 years), 3 and Taiwan (69 per 100 000 ,5 years). 4 The incidence is increasing in both industrialized countries such as Japan 2 and the United Kingdom, 5 as well as in rapidly industrializing countries such as India.…”