Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown cause and is associated with various digestive disorders, although only a few cases of intussusception associated with KD have been reported. We describe a case of intussusception followed by KD in a 3-year-old boy. The patient was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of severe abdominal pain. Because the target sign was seen on ultrasonography, intussusception was diagnosed and hydrostatic reduction was performed. On the second day after admission, he developed a high fever (38°C) and an irregular rash over his whole body. On the fourth day after admission, the high fever continued, and bilateral nonexudative conjunctivitis, erythema of the lips and oral mucosa, strawberry tongue, indurated edema of the dorsa of the hands and feet, and diffuse erythema of the palms and soles appeared, and KD was ultimately diagnosed. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin 2 g/kg, aspirin 30 mg/kg/day, and prednisolone 2 mg/kg/day. The high fever and other clinical symptoms resolved immediately after the start of treatment. There was no relapse of KD symptoms after initial treatment, and periungual desquamation was observed on the 10th day after admission. He was discharged on the 15th day, without abnormalities such as coronary dilatation, 3 months after the onset of KD symptoms. Patients with intussusception and KD were older (≥3 years vs <3 years) than those with intussusception alone. In addition, the site of intussusception in KD was mainly colonic rather than ileocolic. If intussusception precedes development of the characteristic clinical symptoms of KD, diagnosis of KD may be delayed. KD should be considered in children older than 3 years with intussusception at a colonic site.
Keywords: Kawasaki disease; intussusception.