Incomplete Kawasaki disease presenting with a cellulitis-like plaque: Lessons from an unusual presentation

Pediatr Dermatol. 2024 Mar-Apr;41(2):359-361. doi: 10.1111/pde.15494. Epub 2024 Jan 19.

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute small to medium-vessel vasculitis that primarily affects children under the age of 5 years. The cause of KD is unknown, but it is hypothesized to be a systemic inflammatory illness triggered by infections in genetically predisposed individuals. Diagnosis of incomplete KD is made in patients with prolonged fever without a source who do not meet diagnostic criteria but have some findings consistent with KD such as elevated inflammatory markers, transaminitis, and echocardiographic findings. We present a 7-year-old boy who developed 10 days of fevers and rash that began 3 days after his first dose of hepatitis A vaccination and had notable features of a peculiar cellulitis-like plaque and peripheral eosinophilia.

Keywords: Kawasaki; atypical Kawasaki; cellulitis; eosinophilia; incomplete Kawasaki; vasculitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Cellulitis / diagnosis
  • Cellulitis / etiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Exanthema*
  • Fever
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* / complications
  • Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* / diagnosis