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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Kawasaki Disease & Carpet Shampoo
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Kawasaki Disease & Carpet Shampoo
by Staci__0__0, May 24, 1999 12:00AM
Posted by Staci on May 24, 1999 at 09:27:44
My friend's son was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease in December of 1998. She recently told me that there may be a link to Carpet Shampoo. I have a 23 month old son and just recently shampooed my carpets. I am wondering if there is any way you can tell my what in the shampoo is suspected to cause this illness. Thank you, Staci
Posted by Karen on May 24, 1999 at 16:23:52
I too heard of a link between Kawasaki and carpet cleaning. I read that it happens when you have your carpets shampooed and don't wait for them to dry before letting you child on it. If I remember right, it has to do with the carpet being damp and putting you child on it that could cause Kawasaki. I am not a doctor though, so I cannot verify this.
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on May 25, 1999 at 08:04:50
I did a literature search and couldn't find any reference to carpet shampoo. Here is a review article on suspected causes which are all infectious in nature. If anyone has other information I would be interested in hearing it.
Leung DY. Superantigens related to Kawasaki syndrome. [Review] [47 refs] Springer Seminars in Immunopathology. 17(4):385-96, 1996
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Posted by Deb on May 26, 1999 at 19:11:46
My son has Kawasaki disease. He was not one of the fotunate kids whose hearts go back to normal. He now has two grand coronary aneurysm's. He sees his cardiologist every 6 months and has a complete work up. There is NO CONNECTION between carpet shampoo and Kawasaki Disease. This is a very old rumor. All the research shows that it is caused by a virus of some unknown origin. My son sees a cardiologist at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee, by Stuart Berger MD. This hospital is part of a Medical College and they have all the current info on Kawasaki Disease. My son is now 16,he does not lead a normal life, but he has been able to excel in other areas. We are hoping that in time they will have an answer and a way to help my son, and others with this.
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on May 26, 1999 at 22:55:54
Dear Deb,
Thanks for putting an old rumor back to rest. The internet has a way of stirring these sort of things back up. Best wishes for you and your son.
Posted by Deb on May 26, 1999 at 23:56:12
I am glad to help in anyway I can. Our family is blessed everyday that we have our son! We never take life for granted.
Thank you for your thoughts and wishes.
As you may see by my E-Mail name, I also have heart disease. I have had 3 pacemakers in 2 years because of various reasons. I have been told that I have had every thing that can go wrong with a pacemaker, go wrong! It is in no way, the fault of my doctors. I have, and have had, some of the best in the United States! My heart and chest are kind of goofy and my heart is a bit out of place and I have some vascular problems too, near the heart. Most pacemaker patients never have trouble, but I guess for some reason.....I do! It is hard to understand why at times, but I know that sooner or later it will be ok. I thank God that I have my pacemaker, even with all the crazy things that have gone wrong. It sure beats passing out and having sinus arrest!! I have tried to learn as much as I can about pacemakers and their workings. It empowers us as patients and helps us to understand. It also helps that I am in the medical field too. I talk to many pacer patients, and have set up a network of wonderful people that I talk to. We help others to cope with their pacemakers, and the concerns they have.
Thank you for having such a wonderful site.
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on May 28, 1999 at 10:58:45
Thanks and let us know if you have any questions about pacemakers.
CRC
