Epidemiological trends of Kawasaki disease among paediatric patients admitted to the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital, Trinidad, during 2004-2007

The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological trends, clinical presentation and outcomes in patients presenting with Kawasaki disease (KD) in Trinidad at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, a 350-bed teaching hospital, during the years 2004-2007. Using a retrospective study design, data from all established cases during the period 2004-2007 were collected. Overall, 39 confirmed cases of KD occurred in Trinidad and six on the island of Tobago. The majority of patients (40) were 4 years or younger, with a mate to female ratio of 2:1. A peak in hospital admissions occurred in 2005, with 15 (33.3%) patients presenting with the disease. A seasonal trend was also observed, with the majority of cases being admitted in the rainy season each year, and a peak of admissions in November. KD is a disease of public health significance in Trinidad and Tobago, affecting predominantly mates within the 0- to 4-year age group. Our study emphasises the need for an effective awareness campaign to sensitize both healthcare workers and the general public to KD and its typical presentation. This would raise the level of awareness among physicians and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. (C) 2009 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.