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Epidemiological Features of Kawasaki Disease in Japan
Author(s) -
Yanagawa Hiroshi,
Shigematsu Itsuzo
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1983.tb01675.x
Subject(s) - epidemiology , medicine , incidence (geometry) , kawasaki disease , outbreak , demography , disease , sex ratio , pediatrics , environmental health , surgery , pathology , population , physics , artery , sociology , optics
The epidemiological features of Kawasaki Disease deduced from nation‐wide epidemiological surveys and other epidemiological studies conducted so far in Japan are summarized as follows: (1) The total number of cases observed in 7 nation‐wide surveys up to June 1982 were 47,300 (27,600 males and 19,700 females, M/F=1.4), of which 276 (0.7%) were fatal, (2) Unusually high incidences of the disease were recognized in early or late spring in 1979 and 1982 throughout Japan. A shift of the epidemic wave from warm to cool geographical areas was observed in 1979, but not in 1982. (3) The incidence was highest in Shikoku and surrounding prefectures in 1979, whereas it was highest in the central part of Japan in 1982. (4) The sex ratio tended to be smaller and the age of incidence tended to be younger in epidemic years. (5) A marked temporal clustering of the cases was seen in both epidemic years, 1979 and 1982. (6) Two percent of the cases reported in1981–82 were siblings. The time interval between the onset of disease in siblings was one week or less in most cases. (7) Close geographical and social relations between cases were demonstrated in a field investigation of an outbreak of 9 cases within a month on a small island located about 2,000 km south‐west of Tokyo. (8) A table summarizing the descriptive epidemiology of the disease is given.