ATYPICAL KAWASAKI DISEASE IN A PEDIATRIC PATIENT FOLLOWING COVID-19 EXPOSURE.

Introduction: Atypical Kawasaki Disease (KD), also known as incomplete Kawasaki, is a systemic vasculitis primarily affecting the pediatric population. It is characterized by a prolonged unexplained fever lasting five or more days, with fewer than four classical KD symptoms, such as conjunctival injection, oral mucosal changes, cervical lymphadenopathy, polymorphous rash, and extremity changes. Atypical KD often presents with laboratory indicators of systemic inflammation and may show abnormalities in the coronary arteries on echocardiography. Case Report: The aim of this paper was to provide a comprehensive description of a 34-month-old male patient who developed atypical KD following exposure to COVID-19. The case highlighted clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, management strategies, and outcomes. Despite being fully vaccinated and having no significant medical history, the patient experienced persistent fevers that did not improve with antipyretic treatment. Laboratory tests revealed elevated markers of inflammation, including leukocytosis, CRP, ESR, Ferritin, and GOT. Cardiological evaluation was required due to coronary artery dilation observed on echocardiogram. Early intervention was crucial to prevent serious cardiac complications in KD. Discussions : The case report brought attention to the difficulties involved in diagnosing atypical KD within the context of post-viral multisystem inflammatory syndromes, specifically Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), which can occur after exposure to COVID-19. The patient's clinical presentation of unexplained fever, systemic symptoms, and laboratory markers of systemic inflammation raised suspicion for incomplete KD. Echocardiography played a crucial role in confirming the diagnosis by demonstrating coronary artery dilation, a characteristic finding in KD. The absence of classical symptoms in atypical KD lead to challenges in distinguishing it from other post-viral inflammatory syndromes. In this case, the patient's exposure to COVID-19, along with the temporal relationship between the viral infection and symptom development, raised suspicion for atypical Kawasaki Disease. Elevated inflammatory markers and echocardiographic findings supported the diagnosis. Early intervention with IVIG treatment resulted in positive outcomes and reduced long-term cardiac complications. The association between COVID-19 and Kawasaki-like syndromes, such as MIS-C, was increasingly acknowledged. Healthcare providers should consider Kawasaki disease in pediatric patients with fever and systemic inflammation after COVID-19 exposure. Conclusions: This case emphasized the challenges in diagnosing atypical KD in post-viral inflammatory syndromes, highlighted the importance of early recognition and intervention to prevent cardiac complications, and underscored the role of echocardiography in confirming the diagnosis and guiding management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]