Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

DD was fine all day yesterday and when I picked her up at daycare at 5, they said she started feeling sick at 4, and a rash was starting. I took her home and she had 102 and a rash was covering her abdomen. Took her to dr today at noon, and she had strep throat and scarlet fever.
I can't believe how fast this came on and got worse, all in a matter of an hour or so. She feels and looks terrible.
No one at daycare had it, or so I'm told. Does your daycare send home a notice if there's a contagious illness? They did once last year, but never again. The rash is now all over her face and body and is just miserable.



Update: took Dd back to ped on sat, still high fever, miserable. They gave her shot of rocephin. Sat evening the fever could not be controlled by Motrin/Tylenol and was over 104. By now, her lips are peeling, her anal area is peeling and the rash is all over her and has "strawberry tongue". I mention to ER doc that she has many symptoms of Kawasaki, and I was basically laughed at. He felt she had tonsillitis, gave another diff antibiotic injection, brought fever down and we left.
Scarlet fever symptoms mimic Kawasaki disease. I return to ped today, again I'm saying Kawasaki and he agrees she meets the criteria, having nearly every symptom and calls ahead to hospital to admit us. New hospital, new ER doc, who also concurs.
Strep, flu, mono, CBC all negative, she's prob had Kawasaki these last 6 days but it just took that long to finally arrive at that diagnosis.
I feel so bad for her, she's been so sick and poked and stuck so many times this week.

So, be your own advocate. You know your child best! Not an ER doc who saw her for 10 mins sat night. Voice your concerns., your ped will listen, I know most dr's frown upon Dr. Google, but this time my reading and research paid off.
So, we will remain here for a couple days while she gets treated and they rule out any initial cardiovascular damage.

Message edited 9/17/2014 1:07:41 AM.

Strep throat & scarlet fever

DS went back to daycare Monday and she texted parents at the end of the day letting them know that Roseola was going around. There was also a sign posted saying there were cases and the symptoms. He was at a different daycare as an infant, and I'd either get a letter or be verbally told by the director what was going around. Hope she feels better!

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever

Well strep is around all the time. You could get it anywhere. Strep can be pretty nasty and you can get sick pretty fast. Not usually fun. Scarlet fever is just strep with a rash. The strep bacteria puts off toxins that cause the rash. If it came from daycare there is a chance the person did not know. Some people get strep with no sore throat and just a stomach ache or headache. They don't know they have it so they don't get tested. I hope she feels better soon!

Strep throat & scarlet fever

Our daycare sends out notes when something contagious is going around.

DS got strep this past winter and we hadn't gotten a note beforehand so I'm not sure if he picked it up there or not...

Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

Update in original post

Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

So sorry your DD is sick. Hope she feels better soon and has no lasting effects.
Did the Dr do a strep test initially? I would think the Dr would have called after the strep test was negative and realized your LO had something else. Thank goodness you figured it out.

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

I know nothing about that- never heard of it but sending hugs t best wishes and prayers for speedy recoverry.

My day care post on door when something bad is going around +I've only noticed coxsackie and strep up there) but usually don't see it till I pick him up so he has been there all day- I wish they'd call me as soon as they hear someone had something bad. You're school should def notify parents if something that contagious is out.

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

I told daycare when we were given the scarlet fever diagnosis. But, Kawasaki is auto-immune, and not contagious, thankfully.

Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

I'm so sorry that your DD had to go through all that! Is there any treatment for it? I never heard of it before

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

I hope your DD Is feeling better! I first learned about Kawasaki from a tv show -

http://abc.go.com/shows/greys-anatomy/news/medical-case-file/medical-case-file-919-kawasaki-disease

You are absolutely right - ALWAYS trust your instincts and be an advocate for your children. We know them best!

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

i hope she feels better

Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

I hope she feels better! You did the right thing by your daughter!

Did you have carpets cleaned recently? When my DD got sick after a carpet cleaning last year, my doc mentioned this as a possibility.

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

I am so glad you were your DCs advocate. Good for you for taking control when the medical profession can't see clearly for some damn reason. I hope your DD recovered fully and quickly.

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

Treatment includes gamma globulin infusion, basically plasma antibodies given slowly via iv, low dose of aspirin, echocardiogram and then follow up echocardiograms periodically to ensure no damage to the heart and it's vessels .

Signs and symptoms develop in three phases.
Acute phase of Kawasaki disease - Phase 1
These appear from day 1 to 11. Symptoms appear suddenly and are usually intense:

Elevated body temperature (fever) - the fever continues for at least five days. In some cases the child's temperature may reach 104F (40C). Kawasaki disease induced fevers do not respond to OTC painkillers, such as ibuprofen or Tylenol (paracetamol).

Conjunctivitis - the whites of the child's eyes become reddened. Eyes may also be itchy, watery, and sore.

Sore throat.

Lips may be swollen, chapped and dry.

Red, swollen tongue, often with small lumps at the back (sometimes referred to as strawberry tongue).

Rash - the skin will be red and swollen on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Children may not want to move their legs because of this.

Swollen lymph glands - the glands on the child's neck may be swollen (lumpy on either side).

Sub-acute phase - second phase
These symptoms appear from days 12 to 21.

Symptoms will be less severe, but may persist for longer. The body temperature should be back to normal. Complications are more likely to occur during this phase and the child may experience more pain and be moody. Symptoms may include:

Peeling of the skin on toes and fingers
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Tummy ache
Joint pain
Joint swelling
Jaundice
Lack of appetite

Convalescent phase - third phase
This phase lasts from about day 22 to day 60.

During this phase the child gradually recovers and symptoms improve, until eventually all signs of the disease are gone.

Message edited 9/17/2014 5:13:19 PM.

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

poor girl! glad you trusted your instincts

Re: Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

Her echocardiogram was normal. She's half way through the transfusion now and she's already feeling better.
Yesterday the attending ped and infectious disease dr both agreed it was Kawasaki. The three markers for inflammation in her bloodwork were also elevated. He said the peeling, raw anal area is a telltale sign as are the others. It seems she may have had a moderate case, as he's seen some children who cannot move, have blood red eyes, etc. But, we are on the mend it seems. Thanks for reading & well wishes, we should go home tmrw.

Strep throat & scarlet fever / UPDATE: it's Kawasaki disease

How is she doing now?