Skip to main content
smiling little girl

Kawasaki Disease Program

smiling little girl

The Children’s National Kawasaki Disease Program treats children who are newly diagnosed with Kawasaki disease as well as children who have developed coronary artery aneurysms as a result of having Kawasaki disease.


Our Providers

Our pediatric specialists provide personalized care for your child’s physical, mental and emotional health needs.

Contact Information

For appointments, please call 1-888-884-BEAR (2327) and for information, call 202-479-2090.

 

Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes inflammation in a child’s body and blood vessels in multiple organs, including the coronary artery in the heart.

If your child is experiencing high fever, swollen limbs, peeling skin, red eyes and swollen reddish tongue, we recommend that your child receives treatment as soon as possible to avoid the development of coronary artery aneurysms.

Coronary artery aneurysms are abnormal dilatations of blood vessels in the heart which, if they get clogged, can cause damage to the heart muscle or a heart attack.

Understanding Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease is a rare type of vasculitis that can damage blood vessels throughout the heart. Learn more about its causes, symptoms and treatment to help begin your treatment journey.

Choosing Children’s National for Kawasaki Disease Care

  • Expertise. Our program is led by internationally recognized Kawasaki disease expert Ashraf Harahsheh, M.D. Dr. Harahsheh is co-lead of the American College of Cardiology Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology Quality Network’s Kawasaki Disease Quality Improvements Maintenance of Certification. He also serves on the steering committee of the International Kawasaki Disease Registry (IKDR).
  • Continuum of care. At Children’s National, we ensure a smooth transition for our patients from pediatric cardiology to our adult congenital cardiology team since Kawasaki disease with aneurysms during childhood can lead to coronary events in adulthood. Seiji Ito, M.D., is an adult congenital cardiologist with a special interest in Kawasaki disease and serves as an expert contact for adult facilities across the region that need assistance managing adult patients with coronary complications.
  • Innovative research. In addition to participating in IDKR, our program is involved in maintaining a local Kawasaki disease registry to aid in the development of algorithms on how to diagnose and treat typical Kawasaki disease or coronary artery aneurysms. Our widespread involvement in Kawasaki disease research helps us develop precise treatment plans for our patients and moves Kawasaki disease research forward.

Diagnosing Kawasaki Disease

Treating Kawasaki Disease

Treating Coronary Artery Aneurysm

A smiling young girl in wheelchair giving a thumbs up

Give to Save Lifetimes

Change a child's life forever. Donate to help find cures, fuel innovation and provide world-class care for every child.

A smiling young girl in wheelchair giving a thumbs up