What are the major symptoms of Kawasaki disease?

The major symptoms of Kawasaki disease are characterized by prolonged fever lasting more than five days, along with a combination of symptoms including rash, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye), and cervical lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes in the neck). Kawasaki disease primarily affects children and can lead to serious complications such as coronary artery aneurysms if not treated promptly, making recognition of these symptoms crucial.

Prolonged fever is often the initial presentation and serves as a hallmark symptom. The accompanying rash is typically polymorphous and can vary in appearance, while conjunctivitis in Kawasaki disease is usually non-purulent and bilateral. Cervical lymphadenopathy tends to be unilateral and can be quite prominent.

Other options present symptoms that are not characteristic of Kawasaki disease. For example, the symptoms related to chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue align more with respiratory or cardiac conditions, while those involving fever, cough, and runny nose suggest typical viral infections. Joint pain and swelling are more indicative of other inflammatory or autoimmune conditions rather than Kawasaki. The specific combination of fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and lymphadenopathy is essential for the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease.