2 year old Jack/carpet and furniture cleaned 3 days prior

[jackbuttaro]

Jack just got discharged today from Brym Mawr Hosp in PA. Staff was great including family MD that sent us to ER by recognizing symptoms. Last Tuesday Jack presented w/ a large swollen lymph node on 1 side of neck. The next day, we had him examined by family MD and was prescribed antibiotic for infected lymph node. Follow up Friday w/ no improvement in lymph node and was prescribed a different antibiotic. That night, Jack experienced high fever and presented w/ red eyes on saturday. We followed up w/ MD on Tuesday and were instructed to go to Ped unit for treatment. I am thankful that MD recognized symptoms in order to received treatment w/in recommended timeframe to minimize complications/damage. Although, my wife actually researched this on internet and was going to mention to MD if not diagnosed w/ KD due to multiple symptoms. Good thing for internet. Other diagnoses were ruled out such as streph, RSV, mono and andeovirus that mimic similar symptoms. Jack was diagnosed w/ atypical KD since he did not have swollen hands/feet, rash although he did present w/ other 4 criteria for diagnosis along w/ fever. In additon, he has cough which is not typical. Apparently he was not as miserable as typical pts as nursing staff stated. My theory how Jack obtained KD is as follows: Jack was sick 2-3 weeks earlier w/ high fever, cough and was prescribed augmentin at ER for strep/bronchitis. His streph test was positive but no symptoms such as sore throat or pustules. He was exposed to carpet/furniture when cleaned professionally and developed large lymph node that night (Tuesday). The fever followed on Friday which indicates beginning of KD. I believe that KD is contracted by a combination of enviromental, genetic, and pathological factors. I believe his compromised immune systom during his illness (streph), followed by carpet/furniture cleaning (environmental/pathological) lead to swollen node and later the inflammory auto-immune response causing KD. Research shows that carpet cleaning (chemicals) and more likely the virus/bacteria that become airborne w/ the pressure/moisture during treatment lead to KD. There are documeted outbreaks that were attributed to carpet cleaning causing KD noted in the 1980's in Colorado and Washington State. Recently, I just heard word-of- mouth 3 other cases w/ KD being contrated shortly after carpet cleaning. I believe that in most cases of carpet cleaning, there will be no adverse effects. Although, those children that present w/ just the right combination of genetic, environmental, and biological factors are at risk to develop the disease. I would like to see in the future, a warning w/ literature the risks associated b/f carpet cleaning is peformed to take the appropriate precautions such as not exposing children during treatment, possibly ventilating area, and not returning to area for at least 4-5 hrs. I would hate to have another family experience what we did if this could be prevented. It was distressing waiting for the diagnosis, seeing my son go through the torture of nasal suction testing 2x, multiple needle sticks for bloodwork and having 2 IV's in arms for days. In addition, we were terrified when he experienced adverse reactions during IVIG treatment such as varying blood pressure, fever, chills, high heart rate, and lack of responsiveness. Also, when the EKG showed possible heart muscle thickening. Please let me know of any other families that may attribe contraction of KD to carpet/furniture cleaning. Thank you, steve

[kdbree]

Hi. My three year old is on Day 7 of Kawaski. He has been in the hospital since yesterday. Doctors were suspicious at Day 3 but waited for 5 day benchmark. His first round of IVIG did not take and his fever returned to 102 about 12 hours later. Waiting for the second dose to get started.

We cleaned the carpet in the basement (where his room is) the day before he first got his fever. Can't recall but I think he stayed up on the main floor that night and since he got sick. Just wanted to let you know since it is very coincidental.

[Naffziger]

My daugher was diagnosed in March with KD..she was not exposed to any carpet cleaning, but we did have a humidifier in her room that wasn't ran regularly and my husband and I wonder if the mold/bacteria could have triggered it..We are doing research and have found a few cases.

[kdbree]

Just remembered we cleaned other carpets about 4 to 6 weeks ago. At some point around that time he got a big (golf ball size) lump on his neck. Now wondering if there is any sort of correlation. Once I have a chance to figure it out I will let you know.

[stephenslc]

Hi,
My son is 18 1/2 months old. He is suspected to have KD. We didn't have any carpets cleaned, but we had new carpet installed a week before he started getting sick. Don't know if it's related, but thought it's worth mentioning.

[christine382]

We were living in Colorado back in the 80's and my son, who was 18 mo old at the time, contracted Kawasaki Disease. We had just moved into a new condo that had the carpets cleaned. Come to find out, there was one of the largest outbreaks of KD in Colorado at that time. It took them almost 2 weeks to diagnose my son. He did suffer an aneurysm, but once they began treatment for KD, he got well and the aneurysm healed. For the next 24 years my son appeared great. Healthy, athletic, smart and handsome! Then at age 26 he suffered a heart attack before a basketball game and died right there within minutes. We were shocked and devastated! The autopsy revealed 100% blockage in the same artery (Left Main) where he had the aneurysm as a baby. I alway told my son's doctors that he had KD when he was a baby. No doctor ever told me this could happen and that he should have testing done periodically to make sure he is ok. Cannot believe after 24 years what I am learning now. We should all make sure that children who have had this disease are monitored throughout life. Seems like doctors really need more awareness about this disease, too.

[angelica's mom]

My daughter was diagnosed in April, she was showing signs of problems 2 days after I cleaned the carpets in our home. She "helped" as much as a 2 1/2 year old can, she pushed the cleaner while I pushed. Ironically it started much the same way as with your son, swollen lymph node, given antibiotics, they weren't working, 1 1/2 days later I took her the ER and told them of the previous diagnosis, and that I was sure the noe was larger, they measured it and it was 2 cm larger. Infectious disease came in, and told me of the six typical signs though she only had 2 at that time, 6 hours later she developed all 6 ( including fever, rash, strawberry tongue/lips, swelling in the hands and feet, swollen node.) They immediately started her on IVIG. After she completed the medicine, the doctors and I were talking and I mentioned what I read online about carpet cleaning and she said there were no clear studies but that it was possible. The more I read the more I say its not only possible, it is a reason!

[lukesmom]

My son recently returned home after a complicated 14 day hospital stay for KD. He began having fever, runny nose, and cough within a week of a house cleaning service cleaning our house and was diagnosed with KD a week later. Did not think of this before. Did not have carpets cleaned but heavy odor of cleaning products. Plan to cancel the service now!

[taraacosta]

My son Noah was diagnosed with kd almost 3 years ago. He was almost 2, now almost 5 (so far so good!) I remember before he was diagnosed, I had a terrible cough. I really thought I had pneumonia. Noah seemed to get what I had and he came down with a nasty cough for a few days, then he developed a fever. The first day of his fever, before any of the other kd symptoms developed, I cleaned my upholstery on my dining room chairs while he was napping. I used a ton of carpet/upholstery cleaner in the house. It was after that that his fever spiked and he developed the other kd symptoms. I also used a humidifier in his room for the first time ever, and it was an older one that had been in storage for a couple of years, also we live by a creek which at that time was fairly stagnant, he had a respiratory virus (not strep, he was tested), I used to douse his clothes with stain pretreaters, we used fertilzer and weed control chemicals on our yard. I have heard of links of all these things to kd. It drives me crazy not knowing what the trigger was.

[Stressedout]

Hi,

My 6 year old son was diagnosed on May 26, 2011, about two weeks after I cleaned our carpets. He kept walking on them while they were wet even after I kept telling him not to. I know they say carpet cleaner is not linked to KD, but it still makes me wonder. I wish I would have insisted that he go downstairs to the familyroom to watch TV for the day and maybe none of this would have happened to him. It started with a fever and swollen lymphnode in his neck, and after several visits to the Urgicare and ER, and several symptoms later, an echo was finally preformed after 9 days of onset of his fever any they found a significant sized aneurysm in his heart. He can lo longer play sports, take gym, run around the yard. I am beside myself, and I just can't stand not knowing the unknown of what this is going to do to him.

[AuntJulie]

My nephew past away in 2010 unexpectedly at the age of 26 from KD. He'd been diagnosed in Denver back in the 80's as a baby. Getting the diagnosis back then was extremely difficult because just like today this illness is so often over looked & difficult to diagnose in time to receive treatment that is so crucial before the damage is done. My nephew grew up to look like a picture of good health until one summer day in the park while playing basket ball with friends, he laid down in the grass & died. His death was attributed to the KD he'd had as a child. I too absolutely believe there is a correlation between carpet cleaning & this illness, and if not directly linked to the carpet cleaning itself then perhaps a similar chemical toxin used in carpet cleaning that is also used in other products that these children are being exposed to. The carpets in my sisters town home had been cleaned shortly before my nephew became ill.

[Heidiandpat]

I am currently in the hospital with my 9 year old son who also was diagnosed with KD. Strangely, we had our carpets cleaned 3 weeks before the onset of his symptoms. Also, the weather was cold, so I didn't air out my house like usual. I cranked the heat and ran fan. Very strange coincidence.

[Oceansideview]

I've looked up all of the theories on causes of KD, and the only one that remotely fits our situation is steam carpet cleaning. Our daughter was diagnosed with KD, and her fevers began June 23rd. She's actually been around a TON of carpet cleaning. We cleaned our carpets before we left our house to the new owners May 2nd, we also had to stay with our friends in their basement for a month, and my daughter has very serious cat allergies, so they cleaned their carpets as well before we moved in. Then we moved into our new home on May 30, and subsequently cleaned the carpets there as well by early June. Definitely interesting!

[Nancy]

hi

The carpet cleaning theory is very old (one small study in the Lancet 1982 which has never been able to replicated) and outdated and has been discarded by the KD researchers

best,
nancy