Kawasaki disease presenting with hoarseness: A multinational study of the REKAMLATINA network

Background Recently, hoarseness affecting the supraglottic structure has been reported in Kawasaki disease (KD). The objective of this study was to characterize the frequency of hoarseness in acute KD patients in Latin America. Methods We used prospective data from the multinational Red de Enfermedad de Kawasaki en America Latina (REKAMLATINA) network. A total of 865 patients from 20 countries were enrolled during the 3 year study period. Data on hoarseness were available in 858 (99.2%) patients. The clinical and laboratory characteristics between hoarse and non-hoarse KD were compared. Results Hoarseness was documented in 100 (11.6%) patients. Hoarse patients were younger than those with KD without hoarseness (median age 18 vs 26 months; P = 0.002) and presented with lower hemoglobin (10.7 g/dL vs 11.3 g/dL; P = 0.040) and hematocrit levels (32% vs 33%, P = 0.048). Conclusions Hoarseness was found to be prevalent as a presenting sign of acute KD in younger children. Anemia may indicate the presence of active inflammation.

Automated summary

Hoarseness was found to be a prevalent presenting sign of acute Kawasaki disease in younger children in Latin America. Anemia may indicate the presence of active inflammation, which could be a contributing factor to hoarseness in these patients.