Condition Lookup

Kawasaki Disease

Sub-category: Vasculitis

Symptoms:
fever lasting >5 days; red eyes (conjunctivitis); strawberry tongue; rash; swollen hands and feet; lymphadenopathy

Root Cause:
Acute systemic vasculitis affecting medium-sized arteries, especially coronary arteries, primarily in children.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical criteria (fever and at least four of the main symptoms); echocardiography to assess coronary artery involvement.

Treatment:
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and high-dose aspirin to reduce inflammation and prevent coronary complications.

Medications:
Intravenous immunoglobulin (immune modulator), aspirin (antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory), and corticosteroids in refractory cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 8–67 per 100,000 children under 5 years annually; higher in East Asian populations.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age <5 years; male sex; Asian ethnicity; genetic predisposition

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely treatment; risk of coronary artery aneurysms in untreated cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Coronary artery aneurysms; myocarditis; heart failure; myocardial infarction

Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Vascular Diseases

Sub-category: Vasculitis

Symptoms:
headache; jaw claudication (pain while chewing); scalp tenderness; vision loss; fever; fatigue; weight loss

Root Cause:
Inflammation of large- and medium-sized arteries, especially the temporal arteries, due to an immune-mediated process.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical symptoms; elevated ESR and CRP; temporal artery biopsy (showing granulomatous inflammation); Doppler ultrasound of the temporal artery

Treatment:
High-dose corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and prevent complications, followed by a gradual tapering.

Medications:
Corticosteroids such as prednisone (anti-inflammatory), tocilizumab (an IL-6 receptor antagonist for refractory cases), and aspirin (antiplatelet therapy to reduce vascular complications).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 200 per 100,000 people aged over 50; more common in women and people of Northern European descent.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age >50 years; female sex; genetic predisposition (HLA-DR4); Northern European ancestry

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early treatment; untreated cases risk permanent vision loss or aortic aneurysm.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Permanent vision loss; aortic aneurysm; stroke; vascular stenosis

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Wegener’s)

Specialty: Orthopedics and Rheumatology

Category: Rheumatologic Conditions

Sub-category: Vasculitis

Symptoms:
sinus congestion; nasal ulcers; hemoptysis (coughing up blood); cough; joint pain; fever; fatigue; weight loss

Root Cause:
Autoimmune vasculitis affecting small to medium-sized blood vessels, primarily in the respiratory tract and kidneys, leading to inflammation and damage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is typically confirmed through a combination of clinical symptoms, blood tests (elevated ANCA levels), imaging, and biopsy of affected tissues (e.g., lungs, kidneys).

Treatment:
The treatment typically includes high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents like cyclophosphamide or rituximab. Maintenance therapy with methotrexate or azathioprine may follow.

Medications:
Corticosteroids (prednisone ) are used for initial treatment, often in combination with immunosuppressants like cyclophosphamide or rituximab . Maintenance therapy may involve methotrexate or azathioprine .

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with an estimated incidence of 3 per million people per year.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age (typically diagnosed in adults aged 40-60), male gender, positive ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) in blood tests.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With early treatment, remission is possible, but the disease can cause irreversible damage, particularly to the kidneys and lungs.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Kidney failure, lung damage, hearing loss, and systemic organ damage.

Takayasu Arteritis

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Vascular Diseases

Sub-category: Vasculitis

Symptoms:
fatigue; arm or leg claudication; diminished or absent pulses; blood pressure discrepancies; fever; night sweats; weight loss

Root Cause:
Chronic inflammation of large vessels, particularly the aorta and its major branches, causing stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysms.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Angiography (CT or MRI); vascular ultrasound; elevated ESR and CRP; clinical findings such as pulse deficits

Treatment:
Corticosteroids for inflammation control and immunosuppressants in refractory cases.

Medications:
Prednisone (corticosteroid), methotrexate or azathioprine (immunosuppressants), and biologics like tocilizumab or infliximab (TNF inhibitors) in severe cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with an estimated incidence of 1-3 cases per million annually; more common in women of Asian descent aged 10–40 years.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female sex; Asian or Indian ancestry; young age (10–40 years); genetic predisposition

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; most cases respond to treatment, but some experience relapses or vascular complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Aneurysms; vascular stenosis; ischemic stroke; aortic regurgitation

Polyarteritis Nodasa

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Vascular Diseases

Sub-category: Vasculitis

Symptoms:
fever; weight loss; abdominal pain; muscle aches; skin rashes; neuropathy; hypertension

Root Cause:
Necrotizing vasculitis affecting medium-sized arteries, leading to tissue ischemia and organ damage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Biopsy of affected tissue; angiography; elevated ESR/CRP; hepatitis B serology (associated in some cases)

Treatment:
Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs for inflammation control. Treat underlying hepatitis B if present.

Medications:
Prednisone (corticosteroid), cyclophosphamide (immunosuppressant), and antiviral therapy if hepatitis B is involved.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence is 2–9 per million annually; more common in men aged 40–60 years.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hepatitis B infection; male sex; middle age

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Can be life-threatening without treatment but good with early intervention.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Renal failure; intestinal perforation; stroke; peripheral neuropathy