Public Health Impact of Kawasaki Disease in India: Projections for 2030.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis that usually affects children below 5 years and has now become the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children, surpassing acute rheumatic fever. Incidence data from Chandigarh, India, between 1994 and 2019 shows a monthly increase of 0.002 cases/100,000 children aged < 5 years and 0.0165 cases/100,000 children aged < 15 years. Projections for 2020-2030 suggest a sustained monthly rise of 0.0177 cases/100,000 children aged < 15 years. This trend mirrors global patterns of rising incidence of KD. This can pose significant public health challenges due to serious cardiovascular complications such as coronary artery aneurysms, myocardial ischemia, and sudden cardiac death associated with KD. Limited awareness, delayed diagnosis, and high treatment costs exacerbate the disease's clinical and economic burden. Early diagnosis and appropriate management remain critical for reducing the long-term morbidity. Predictive modelling highlights the urgency of allocating resources to address this emerging public health challenge.