M30.3: Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome [Kawasaki]

Arteries are blood vessels that transport blood away from the heart. They supply all the tissue in the body with oxygen-rich blood. With this disorder, your immune system attacks the body’s own arteries. The immune system protects the body from pathogens and foreign substances. The immune system can also destroy cells in the body that have pathologically changed. If the immune system attacks the body’s own arteries, those arteries can become inflamed. The disorder occurs in children, in particular. The precise cause of the disorder is not yet known.

The inflamed arteries can cause high temperatures and inflammation in the mouth. The skin may also be changed. The skin of the hands and feet, in particular, can turn red and swell up. After a while, the areas of skin affected may become flaky. Other organs such as the heart, kidneys and digestive organs can also be affected. Lymph nodes can swell up and be painful, particularly in the neck. The lymph nodes are small bean-shaped objects. They are found throughout the body. Lymph nodes filter the tissue fluid. They are part of the defense system.