Kids, Kawasaki Disease, and COVID-19: What Parents Should Know

While children are only a small minority of those who test positive for COVID-19, we’re starting to see evidence of a rare, but serious, complication in children that resembles a condition known as Kawasaki disease. Here’s what doctors say we should watch out for.

Hosted by: Hank Green

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[BeegPandaber]

I had Kawasaki as a baby. Can't imagine the toll it took on my parents. It took several visits to the doctor to even be diagnosed properly, and then an extended stay in the hospital to treat it. One of the most harrowing things my mom can talk about is her memory of watching the doctors trying to find a vein for a blood transfusion. It was incredibly difficult and took many tries. I'm forever grateful to my doctor, who recognized the symptoms immediately (we had previously seen a nurse), and to my family for their dedication to getting me the right treatment. I easily could've died.

[FlyKiwi]

As an early childhood teacher I was horrified when I started seeing reports of this.

[BlackTungsten]

I had Kawasaki when I was a kid. Why couldn't I have just won the actual lottery?

[madisonsilva]

I had H1N1 during that pandemic and I remember the doctor telling my mom to watch out for peeling skin around my fingers, and to bring me to the children’s hospital if I did. Luckily I didn’t, but I never forgot that, and I never knew why until today. Thank you SciShow team for keeping us informed, you guys are awesome.

[gadgetgirls]

I had kawasaki disease when I was 8, only days after I had major surgery on my legs. Worst year of my life.

[SanahSaysHello]

As both an Internet person and as a doctor, I appreciate you publicizing this information.

[luizcarnevale]

I also had kawasaki and suffered a lot, im glad to know you guys are giving attention to it and informing its relation to the covid, my parents thought it would make me have the disease again or something since its been poorly talked about

[ms.borzynski]

My friend who is 21 was just diagnosed with this after testing negative for covid. So weird

[kellyrobinson]

Thanks Hank for all the info you're bringing us about this pandemic.

[MelodySharp.]

After seeing this video a week ago, I showed my mom, since my little sister was showing symptoms, the next day she takes my sis to the doctor to get tested and sure enough she had it, thank you SciShow for making us aware this existed so my sister could finally get treated!

[chilledadvocate]

i love how you guys keep ur ears up for the next big thing and try to catch ppl and inform them b4 they start freaking out more than they should. you all probably help the public more than you know.

[tylert]

Based on the comments, it seems a lot of people have or had Kawasaki Disease.

[miss.apprehended]

My brother had K.D. as a baby; I have a genetic immunodeficiency of which body doesn't produce sufficient number & adequately functioning T-cells (essential for clearing cytokine build-up that covid is said to cause).. but no choice to go out my own to grocery shop, ride public transit. Thankfully not sick yet🤞

[notmynameanymore]

I think I had this too, when I lived in new Mexico as a kid, but everyone called it scarlet fever --i have no idea if Kawasaki and scarlet fever are the "same thing" but they do sound similar in terms of how much it sucked.

[Endrance]

OMG THIS IS ALL ABOUT ME I HAVE THIS.

I'm 31 and I still have it, I get aneurysms due to it.

[lutheriii]

I had Kawasaki when I was 2 and still every few years have to be examined to see if my heart is ok.

[TheMutantCreeper]

I heard about Covid-19 now being considered a “blood vessel disease”. Can you do more research about these findings and what new possibilities this could bring to treatment?

[FrancisBalgos]

My nephew was diagnosed with Kawasaki last month.. it was hard to see him in ICU. I now think it might be connected to covid19. Thankfully my nephew survived, he's only a beautiful over a year old baby boy. Thanks SciShow, ill share this vid to my sister.

[savannahg]

My aunt, who is five months older than me, got Kawasaki disease at 2 years old, then, two years after that, I also got it at 4 years old. At the time that was apparently seen as really rare. It's so strange to hear about it popping up now since nobody I've met has known about it until I bring it up

[greekgods]

My daughter was a month old weighing at 5 lbs. She started off with a high fever rash swelling it affected her main artery they had told me that because my daughter was a baby that they thought she didn't have Kawasaki disease. They took all kinds of tests even had to draw blood from her head because they couldn't find her vein. Made me so mad I told them she has the symptoms they did the test and it was Kawasaki. She's 14 years old now and doing fine.