Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as Kawasaki syndrome or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, was first identified by a scientist in Japan in 1967. It is a rare disease that affects young children with 80 percent of patients being under the age of four.

Kawasaki disease is characterized by an inflammation of the blood vessels (arteries, veins, and blood capillaries) throughout the body. The disease can also affect the skin, lymph nodes, and the mucous membranes located inside the mouth, nose, and throat. Because KD affects the walls of small and medium size arteries, including the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, it can lead to long-term heart complications and is the major cause of acquired heart disease in children.

The majority of children are diagnosed with KD in the winter and early spring seasons, which scientists attribute to the greater prevalence of germ and viral outbreaks that may cause Kawasaki disease. The condition is estimated to occur in 19 out of every 100,000 children and is more common in boys than in girls.