Which finding is commonly associated with Kawasaki disease?

Which finding is commonly associated with Kawasaki disease?

• A. Conjunctival injection with exudate
• B. Periungual nail shedding
• C. Fever with mucocutaneous involvement including strawberry tongue
• D. Recurrent abdominal pain

Answer: (C)

Kawasaki disease is a pediatric vasculitis that classically presents with fever plus mucocutaneous involvement. A hallmark clue is oral mucous membrane changes such as a strawberry tongue, reflecting inflammation of the lips, mouth, and tongue along with fever. Conjunctival injection in Kawasaki is typically nonexudative, so purulent discharge would point away from Kawasaki. Nail shedding around the nail beds happens later, in the subacute phase, not during the acute illness. Recurrent abdominal pain isn’t a typical feature. So, fever with mucocutaneous involvement including strawberry tongue best captures the common presentation of Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease is a pediatric vasculitis that classically presents with fever plus mucocutaneous involvement. A hallmark clue is oral mucous membrane changes such as a strawberry tongue, reflecting inflammation of the lips, mouth, and tongue along with fever. Conjunctival injection in Kawasaki is typically nonexudative, so purulent discharge would point away from Kawasaki. Nail shedding around the nail beds happens later, in the subacute phase, not during the acute illness. Recurrent abdominal pain isn’t a typical feature. So, fever with mucocutaneous involvement including strawberry tongue best captures the common presentation of Kawasaki disease.