Meet Myles, a smiley one-year-old from Harrisonburg, who survived a heart attack caused by Kawasaki Disease.
Myles’ video debuted at the Charlottesville Heart Ball on April 1. Though relatively common, the illness is very hard to diagnose and is characterized by several symptoms including: fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, and swollen lymph glands in the neck.
In the United States, it is a major cause of heart disease in children. The heart may be affected in as many as one in five children who develop Kawasaki Disease. Infants less than 1 year old are usually the most seriously ill and are at greatest risk for heart involvement. The acute phase of Kawasaki Disease commonly lasts 10 to 14 days or more. Most children recover fully. The likelihood of developing coronary artery disease later in life is not known, and remains the subject of medical investigation.
Earlier this year, AHA released new recommendations for diagnosing and treating Kawasaki Disease.
Our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been fighting heart disease and stroke, striving to save and improve lives. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.