Singer's son diagnosed with rare disease similar to SJS
January 2nd, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Last week, after weeks of alarming medical symptoms, Backstreet Boys band member Brian Littrell finally has a diagnosis for his ailing 6-year-old son Baylee – Kawasaki Disease, according to the singer’s Web page. Kawasaki Disease, or KD, is a serious illness that involves the skin, mouth and lymph nodes. If symptoms are recognized early, a full recovery can be expected. If left untreated, it can cause serious heart complications.
Before being admitted to the hospital, Baylee was thought to be suffering from a combination of strep throat; hand, foot and mouth disease; and erythema multiforme (EM). EM is an acute, self-limiting inflammatory skin eruption. It often affects the mouth, eyes and other moist surfaces. One category of EM, known as EM major, is Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). SJS often appears following fever, malaise, cough and sore throat. A skin biopsy can confirm SJS.
Unlike with SJS, there is no single test to detect KD. Doctors usually diagnose it by looking at the symptoms expressed and ruling out other conditions. Symptoms usually include a fever lasting five or more days; redness in both eyes; changes around the lips, tongue or mouth; swelling, discoloration or peeling in the fingers and toes; a rash in the trunk or genital area; large, swollen lymph node in the neck; and red or swollen palms of the ands and soles of the feet.
SJS is most often caused by an adverse reaction to medication; the cause of KD is still unknown. If left untreated, KD can cause inflammation in the coronary arteries as well as the walls of the small and medium sized arteries throughout the body. Doctors say Baylee’s arteries were affected and he received treatment, according to E! Online. Baylee was released from the hospital just days before Christmas and will be monitored carefully by pediatric cardiologists over the next 6-8 weeks.