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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Three things are known to increase your child's risk of developing Kawasaki disease, including:

  • Age. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old are most at risk of Kawasaki disease.
  • Sex. Boys are more likely than girls are to develop Kawasaki disease.
  • Ethnicity. People living in Asia or of Asian descent, such as Japanese or Chinese, have higher rates of Kawasaki disease.
References
  1. Kawasaki disease. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4634. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
  2. Sundel R. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
  3. What is Kawasaki disease? Kawasaki Disease Foundation. http://www.kdfoundation.org/dl/kdfbrochure.pdf. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
  4. Sundel R. Epidemiology and etiology of Kawasaki disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
  5. Takahashi M. Cardiovascular sequelae of Kawasaki disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
  6. Sundel R. Initial treatment and prognosis of Kawasaki disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
  7. KDF bridges. Kawasaki Disease Foundation. http://www.kdfoundation.org/bridges.aspx. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
  8. Hoecker J (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 24, 2008.

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Feb. 3, 2009

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