"It is well known that convulsions/seizures may occur in clinical course of Kawasaki disease." ~

[mzmolly]

Posting this in relation to the Travolta family tragedy.

Shimakawa S, Yamada K, Hara K, Tanabe T, Tamai H.

Department of Pediatrics, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Osaka.

"It is well known that convulsions may occur in clinical course of Kawasaki disease. However, the features of such seizures remain unclear. Recent reports have hypothesized that pro-inflammatory cytokines may contribute to the genesis of febrile convulsions (FC). In the acute phase of Kawasaki disease, pro-inflammatory cytokines are elevated in serum and CSF. If cytokines play a role in seizure phenomena in patients with Kawasaki disease, FC and seizures in Kawasaki disease might share some clinical features. To clarify the clinical features of convulsion in Kawasaki disease, we investigated 7 patients with Kawasaki disease with convulsions who were diagnosed and treated from November 2003 to November 2005. We found several features of the seizures, as well as the onset age, were different among these clinical entities. The onset of Kawasaki disease was characteristically before six months of age in all patients. Seizure clustering was seen in 5 patients and partial seizures in 4. Prolonged unconsciousness after seizures was seen in one patient, syndrome of inappropriate secretion of ADH (SIADH) in one other. One patient had markedly elevated IL-6 in CSF. These observations led us to speculate that the convulsion of Kawasaki disease may be attributable to an encephalitis. The results of this study suggest that seizure pathophysiology differs between FC and Kawasaki disease."

Experts in Japan are aware of the fact that seizures can occur in a course of Kawasaki Disease. Why is it that physicians in the US who are being consulted by major media (referred to as "experts") are unaware?

I found this info on PUBMED easily by searching for http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18634413?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum">"Kawaski and Seizure" why can't CNN do the same?

It's frustrating to watch the media feign concern for the Travolta family while they promote misinformation about what ailed Jett Travolta. The first place I learned that K.D. could cause seizures was here on DU. Thanks to all who continue to seek accurate info and share it with others.