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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a serious illness
3characterized by inflammation of blood vessels throughout the
4body, which primarily affects young children and can lead to
5permanent heart disease; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Kawasaki Disease can cause devastating
7consequences, including life-long aneurysms, stent placement,
8heart transplants, skin disorders, and childhood anxiety; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Kawasaki Disease is the number one cause of
10permanent heart disease in children; it is diagnosed in
11approximately 4000 to 5000 U.S. children annually, primarily
12under the age of eight and across racial, ethnic, and
13socioeconomic lines; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Scientific studies indicate that genetic
15inheritance is an important risk factor of Kawasaki Disease;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Despite the serious consequences that can
18manifest in children with Kawasaki Disease, there have been
19recent instances of young adults suffering heart attacks in
20their 20s and 30s, which then reveal old aneurysms and a missed
21diagnosis of KD as a child; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Underprivileged and minority communities are
2particularly devastated by the high cost of known treatment
3for Kawasaki Disease; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The American Heart Association, the World Heart
5Federation, and the National Institute of Health recognize the
6need for proper and timely diagnosis, education, and treatment
7of Kawasaki Disease; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The lack of public knowledge and understanding of
9Kawasaki Disease plays a significant role in the overwhelming
10number of undiagnosed and untreated cases of KD; the
11dissemination of inaccurate, misleading information also
12contributes to the obstacles preventing diagnosis and
13treatment of the disease; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Missed diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease can lead to
15permanent heart disease and untimely death, which places an
16unnecessary financial burden on the health care system; and
 
17    WHEREAS, A lack of knowledge, combined with the issue that
18symptoms can disappear, has a particularly detrimental effect
19on the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki Disease; and
 
20    WHEREAS, There is a need to educate health care

 

 

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1professionals, parents, and the general public, who could be
2at unknown risk, about Kawasaki Disease and a need for
3well-trained physicians and emergency room professionals
4capable of conducting timely diagnosis and treatment
5activities; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Studies by the Kawasaki Disease Research Center
7and others consistently reveal that through proper and
8comprehensive diagnosis and treatment the symptoms and effects
9of KD can be substantially decreased and quality of life for
10the individual can be improved; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
12HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
13we declare January 26, 2011 as "Kawasaki Disease Awareness
14Day" and recognize Kawasaki Disease as a significant health
15concern; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That we encourage all citizens of Illinois to
17find out more about Kawasaki Disease and its signs and
18symptoms and to seek the appropriate treatment and care, if
19necessary; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That we encourage medical professionals and
21researchers to consider ways to improve access to appropriate
22research information as to cause and patient treatment with

 

 

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1the purpose of improving the quality of life for children and
2adults with Kawasaki Disease.