Definition

Noun: A rare, acute inflammatory condition primarily affecting young children. It is characterized by a combination of symptoms including prolonged fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, redness of the eyes and mouth, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Its cause is unknown, but it is believed to involve an abnormal immune system response.

Usage

This term is a specific medical diagnosis used in clinical and scientific contexts. * The pediatrician diagnosed the child with mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome after observing a persistent high fever, a strawberry tongue, and a widespread rash. * Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries due to its potential to cause coronary artery aneurysms.

Advanced Usage

• The condition is more commonly known by its eponymous name, Kawasaki disease. In medical literature, the terms are often used interchangeably, though Kawasaki disease is the predominant term in clinical practice.
• Diagnosis is based on a set of clinical criteria, as there is no single definitive test for mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.

Variants and Related Words

• Kawasaki disease (n): The standard and more frequently used name for the same condition.
• Kawasaki (n, informal): A common shorthand used in medical settings (e.g., "a suspected case of Kawasaki").

Synonyms

• Kawasaki disease (This is the primary synonym and the more common term.)

Notes on Different Meanings

This term has only one specific meaning in medical terminology. It does not have general or figurative uses outside of describing this particular syndrome.

Noun

1. an acute disease of young children characterized by a rash and swollen lymph nodes and fever; of unknown cause