Paeds Cases · cardiology
Explain Kawasaki disease and its treatment to a frightened parent — OSCE
OSCE communication and shared-planning station: explaining the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease to a parent, the IVIG and aspirin treatment, the reason for the echocardiograms and the coronary risk, and the follow-up plan, with empathy, honesty and without overpromising.
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You are the paediatric registrar. You have five minutes to speak with Mrs Patel, whose eighteen-month-old son Arjun was admitted overnight with six days of fever, red eyes, a strawberry tongue and a widespread rash. The team has diagnosed Kawasaki disease and is about to start treatment. Mrs Patel is frightened and has been searching online. Explain what Kawasaki disease is in plain language, what the treatment is and why it is given now, why the heart needs checking, and what the outlook is — honestly and without overpromising. Answer her questions, check her understanding, and agree a plan with her. [1]
References4ShowHide
- [1]McCrindle BW, Rowley AH, Newburger JW, et al. Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Management of Kawasaki Disease: A Scientific Statement for Health Professionals From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 2017.PMID 28356445
- [2]Newburger JW, Takahashi M, Burns JC, et al. The treatment of Kawasaki syndrome with intravenous gamma globulin. N Engl J Med, 1986.PMID 2426590
- [3]Dallaire F, Dahdah N New equations and a critical appraisal of coronary artery Z scores in healthy children. J Am Soc Echocardiogr, 2011.PMID 21074965
- [4]Tsuda E, Hashimoto S Changes in Coronary Aneurysm Diameters After Acute Kawasaki Disease from Infancy to Adolescence. Pediatr Cardiol, 2021.PMID 34132855