ZDR Settles Kawasaki Disease Lawsuit

In 2017, the lawyers at Zevan Davidson Roman settled a $4 million lawsuit on behalf of a 4-year-old boy in Illinois whose doctors failed to diagnose and treat his Kawasaki disease. Earlier this year, ZDR was pleased to represent a young child in Missouri with Kawasaki disease and reach a substantial, confidential settlement just two months before the case was set for trial.

About Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease is an inflammatory disease process that affects the coronary arteries. The cause of the disease is unknown but typically affects children at a young age before the age of five. Both of our clients were about seven months old when their disease first presented.

The symptoms of Kawasaki disease vary from one child to the next, but may include:

• High fevers
• Irritability
• Rash
• Redness in the eyes, tongue or lips
• Swelling in the lymph nodes, hands or feet

Kawasaki Disease Diagnoses

If a child does not have all of the symptoms of Kawasaki disease, he or she may still be diagnosed with “incomplete” Kawasaki disease and treated. There is no one test to diagnose Kawasaki disease, but a close exam and monitoring with lab work and an echocardiogram of the heart can assist a physician in making the diagnosis.

Kawasaki Disease Treatment

The treatment of Kawasaki disease usually involves consultation with a pediatric cardiologist and/or infectious disease physician along with administration of aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin. The treatment is most effective if administered within 10 days of symptom onset and works to reduce the risk of developing coronary abnormalities, especially the development of aneurysms on the coronary arteries.

Kawasaki Disease Delayed Diagnosis Lawsuit

Both of ZDR’s young clients were seen by a family practice or general physician who suspected Kawasaki disease early in the process and referred the patients to pediatricians. However, both pediatricians failed to perform the proper exam, monitoring and testing to diagnose and ultimately treat the Kawasaki disease, causing our clients to go untreated and develop giant aneurysms on their coronary arteries.

ZDR aggressively pursued lawsuits on behalf of both young clients with the assistance of medical experts in the fields of pediatrics, cardiology and infectious disease to reach successful resolutions of both cases shortly before trial. Unfortunately, these young children will have continued needs throughout their lives as a result of the defendants’ negligence. They may use the money ZDR recovered on their behalf throughout their lives to receive continued care and treatment of their cardiac conditions.