“Any infectious disease is a trigger”: Russian doctors - on the relationship of Kawasaki syndrome and COVID-19

The development of the deadly Kawasaki syndrome in children may be associated with coronavirus infection. COVID-19 itself is not the cause of the disease, but works like a trigger, causing changes in the activity of the immune system. About this RT told Russian doctors.

Kawasaki syndrome is a very rare but deadly autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels of children’s hearts and is accompanied by fever, rashes on the body, tumors, conjunctivitis, swelling of the hands and feet. The syndrome was discovered in 1967 by the Japanese doctor Tomisaku Kawasaki, in whose honor he was named. The cause of the occurrence has not yet been identified. The disease mainly manifests itself in the first five years of a person’s life.

According to media reports, during the COVID-19 pandemic in a number of Western countries, more than a hundred cases of Kawasaki syndrome have recently been identified. In some of the affected children, tests showed coronavirus infection, and doctors suspected a link between the two diseases. 

Dozens of children with symptoms of Kawasaki syndrome were admitted in serious condition to New York State hospitals, and about 20 more to London hospitals. The pediatricians and the National Health Service of Great Britain warned of a possible connection between the two diseases.

There are cases in France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland. Only in Italian Bergamo in April of this year is reportedabout 20 cases of the disease, which is three times higher than in April last year.

According to ABC News, Governor Says DeathsNew York State, where three children have died in the past week from Kawasaki syndrome. All had a positive coronavirus test result. 

About the connection of coronavirus with Kawasaki syndrome in an interview with RT, said the chief doctor of the Children's Clinical Hospital named after BEHIND. Bashlyaeva, director of the University Pediatrics Clinic RNIMU them. N.I. Pirogova Ismail Magomedovich Osmanov.

“We know that coronavirus can initiate the development of Kawasaki syndrome disease. We have such data, ”Dr. Osmanov told RT.

According to him, Kawasaki syndrome is characterized by damage to the small and medium arteries, coronary arteries of the heart and causes systemic vasculitis - vascular inflammation with necrosis. The serious consequences of Kawasaki syndrome can be avoided only with the help of early diagnosis and treatment, the specialist notes.

In the case of a correct and timely diagnosis, Kawasaki syndrome is relatively easily cured by intravenous immunoglobulin and the use of high doses of aspirin. This was told in an interview with RT by the Deputy Director for Research of the Medical Research and Education Center of Moscow State University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Simon Teimurazovich Matskeplishvili. In general, he agrees with the opinion that there is a definite relationship between COVID-19 and Kawasaki syndrome.

“Kawasaki syndrome may be associated with viral infections. Any serious infectious disease is a trigger that causes a violation of the immune system. In most adult patients with severe manifestations of coronavirus infection, the immune system works against the body, leading to massive damage to the lungs. In children with Kawasaki syndrome, the same thing happens in the vessels, coronary arteries, ”said Dr. Matskeplishvili.

Also, according to him, boys suffer from Kawasaki syndrome one and a half times more often than girls. In Russia, especially in the European part of the country, this disease is relatively rare, so doctors sometimes can not immediately establish the correct diagnosis, suspecting other ailments with a similar clinical picture, for example, scarlet fever or systemic vasculitis. 

"In Russia, at the moment I do not know cases of the disease with Kawasaki syndrome," added Dr. Matskeplishvili. 

The rarity of the disease is confirmed by Dr. Osmanov. He noted that over the past year in the Pirogov clinic with such a diagnosis, 6-7 children were treated. 

According to Dr. Osmanov, Kawasaki syndrome can develop after an upper respiratory tract infection. He suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic simply stratified, and “there was synergy with another infectious agent — the herpes virus or the Epstein-Barr virus.”

In any case, in Russia there is no reason for a mass threat to children and there is no reason to panic, since Kawasaki syndrome has been detected and treated in the country for several years, doctors are sure.

“There is no need to panic, the panic is canceled. If there are such cases in Russia, we will certainly identify and cure them. The main thing is to make a diagnosis on time. However, adults now, of course, need to be careful and make sure that children do not come into contact with sick people, ”said Dr. Matskeplishvili.

Additional training and re-equipment of clinics for the treatment of Kawasaki syndrome is also not required, experts say. According to them, in the country there are enough specialized medical institutions for children, intensive care beds, equipment and drugs.