Syndrome, mucocutaneous lymph node

A syndrome of unknown origin, mainly affecting young children.

It causes fever, reddening of the eyes (conjunctivitis) and lips and mucous membranes of the mouth, ulcerative gum disease (gingivitis), swollen glands in the neck (cervical lymphadenopathy), and a rash that is raised and bright red (maculoerythematous) in a glove-and- sock fashion over the skin of the hands and feet.

The skin there becomes hard, swollen (edematous), and peels off.

The name 'mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome' is quite descriptive because the disease is characterized by typical changes in the mucous membranes that line the lips and mouth and by the enlarged and tender lymph glands.

The disorder was first described in the late 1960's in Japan by the pediatrician Tomisaku Kawasaki.

Also called Kawasaki's disease