Diagnosis: Kawasaki disease (KD) mimicking a retropharyngeal abscess
Kawasaki disease, also known as acute infantile febrile mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is an acute systemic vasculitis involving small and medium-size arteries. The disease was first described by Kawasaki1 in 1967. It is mostly detected in children younger than 5 years, with a peak incidence in children aged 1 to 2 years.2,3 The etiology of the disease is unknown despite extensive investigations. At present, there is no specific laboratory test for KD. Diagnosis is established on clinical grounds and on exclusion of alternative diagnoses, which may show similar manifestations. Diagnostic criteria are as follows4: