Patient's question:
A 4-year-old boy with Kawasaki disease was hospitalized for one week and discharged a week ago. Upon discharge, his platelet count was 340×10^9, with slightly elevated white blood cells. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 41 mm in the first hour and 76 mm in the second hour. His echocardiogram and other tests were normal.Please ask:
- How long should he wait for a follow-up echocardiogram?
- How long should he wait for a follow-up ESR test?
Doctor's answer:
This mainly depends on the child's clinical presentation. If the child still has clinical symptoms, it is best to check once a week. If the clinical symptoms are relatively mild, a follow-up check every half month is acceptable. Kawasaki disease requires early treatment. The treatment goal is to reduce fever and inflammation, prevent heart damage, and reduce the risk of complications. The average duration of Kawasaki disease is 12 days. 15% to 25% of untreated children may develop coronary aneurysm sequelae, requiring treatment from pediatric cardiologists (which may lead to ischemic heart disease or sudden death). The recurrence rate of Kawasaki disease is approximately 3%.