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Jett Travolta and Kawasaki Disease: Separating Fact From Fiction

Posted on: Monday, 5 January 2009, 10:08 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The recent tragic death of Jett Travolta has raised awareness of Kawasaki Disease, a disease with which he was diagnosed in early childhood. Kawasaki disease is a rare form of vasculitis which usually strikes children under the age of five. The disease occurs more often in boys than girls, and most commonly in children of Asian and Korean descent. Although most children diagnosed with Kawasaki recover with no problems, some patients suffer serious heart problems and joint damage.

Vasculitis is a family of potentially life-threatening diseases of unknown cause linked by blood vessel inflammation and an overactive immune system. Left untreated, most types of vasculitis can cause serious organ/tissue damage and may lead to death. Currently there is no cure, but proper and early treatment allows most individuals to live near normal lives.

Joyce Kullman, Executive Director of the Vasculitis Foundation (VF) said, "Many vasculitis patients do not receive an early diagnosis because symptoms mimic other illnesses and many medical professionals do not recognize the symptoms of vasculitis. Unfortunately, delayed diagnosis of vasculitis can result in permanent tissue and organ damage. The VF seeks to raise awareness and understanding of vasculitis among the medical community. Vasculitis is a chronic illness and patients often must deal with multiple specialists, multiple medications, and multiple side effects from very harsh and difficult treatments."

About the Vasculitis Foundation

The VF is the international organization for patients with vasculitis. There is no known cause or cure for vasculitis. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are critical for patients. Through its website, educational materials, medical consultants, symposia, chapters and support groups the VF strives to educate and support patients, family members and medical professionals. The VF Research Program has funded over $800,000 in research to determine the cause, develop effective treatments and ultimately discover a cure for all types of vasculitis.

The VF was established to alleviate the isolation that patients and families experience when these rare life-threatening diseases affect them. The VF strives to improve the lives of vasculitis patients around the world. For more information: www.Vasculitisfoundation.org

SOURCE Vasculitis Foundation

Source: PR Newswire

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