Recurrent Kawasaki disease presenting as acute airway obstruction

See AX, Prakash V, Tan KK
Correspondence: Dr Henry KK Tan, henry.tan.kk@kkh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Kawasaki disease is a common paediatric vasculitide. It is usually diagnosed by its classical constellation of mucocutaneous signs. Recurrent Kawasaki disease is a rare phenomenon that occurs in approximately 3% of all patients diagnosed with Kawasaki disease. Its presentation is usually similar to the first episode of Kawasaki disease, and early diagnosis with prompt treatment is key in preventing associated cardiovascular morbidities. Recurrent Kawasaki disease is not well reported, and atypical presentations have not been previously reported in medical literature. Here, we report the case of a young girl with recurrent Kawasaki disease who presented atypically with acute airway obstruction secondary to retropharyngeal phlegmon.

Keywords: airway obstruction, atypical presentation, recurrent Kawasaki disease, retropharyngeal phlegmon
Singapore Med J 2012; 53(12): e264–e266