Objectives: To investigate the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of Kawasaki Disease (KD) in Sichuan province of China.
Methods: The questionnaire and diagnostic guideline for KD provided by Japan Kawasaki Disease Research Center (JKDRC) were used for the questionnaire investigation in pediatric departments of all hospitals in Sichuan province for data of KD diagnosed in their hospitals from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2001.
Results: Of the 212 hospitals investigated, 91.5% responded to the questionnaire investigation, with a total of 1811 cases of KD identified. The incidence per 100,000 children <5 years of age was 4.26 in 1997, 5.21 in 1998, 8.57 in 1999, 7.70 in 2000 and 9.81 in 2001, respectively. The average incidence throughout the 5 years was 7.06 per 100 000. The ratio of male to female was 1.62 : 1. The age distribution showed a peak near 1-2 years of age. Cardiac sequelae were seen in 17.0% of the patients. Only 66.2% patients with KD had been treated with intravenous immunoglobulin.
Conclusion: The incidence of KD in Sichuan province was lower than that reported in Japan and Beijing, higher than that in Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shanxi province of China.