Louisville mother warning other parents of Kawasaki Disease in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville baby was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease when she was just 5 and-a-half months old. It's a disease that can lead to heart and artery problems.

Erin Riddle's 2-year-old, Shelby, is a happy and active miracle baby.

"She's everything to us," said Riddle. "We're just so happy that she's such a happy baby. Like she brings so much joy."

But just eight months ago, Shelby's reality looked much different as she was in the hospital with a rash all over her body.

"I was scared to death because I had never seen anything like that on a baby before," Riddle said.

Shelby Riddle rash — Shelby Riddle is a happy and active 2-year-old. But the Louisville baby's reality was much different eight months ago, when she was hospitalized with a severe rash and diagnosed with a rare disease called Kawasaki disease. (Riddle family photo)

After being tested for 70 different viruses, Shelby was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease, which causes inflammation of blood vessels.

"One of the blood vessels that it can cause inflammation with is the coronary arteries, which are the artery that supply to the heart," Dr. Huma Rasheed, Norton Children's Cardiologist, said.

In Shelby's case, she developed a giant aneurysm and had to be put on a strong blood thinner.

"I was so scared to even put her on the floor," said Riddle. "I was scared she was gonna fall and hit her head or get a booboo that wouldn't stop bleeding."

"Within the first 10-day period is when the inflammatory markers are the highest and when the inflammation is going on the strongest," said Rasheed.

Rasheed said if you start medicine to reduce inflammation during that time, it decreases the risk of coronary artery aneurysms.

"You know, we thought she could possibly have this aneurysm for years, and thank God hers healed in four months, so we're very grateful for that," said Riddle. "We thank God every day for that."

Riddle and Rasheed want parents to be aware of some of the symptoms:

A fever for five days or more
Redness in the eyes
Cracked lips or redness on the tongue
Swollen hands or feet
Body rash

"I don't think it's as rare as we think it is," said Rasheed.

Kawasaki Disease typically affects kids ages 2-5. But in Rasheed's practice, she's seen more babies under 6 months and kids over 8 getting diagnosed.

"Unfortunately, we don't know what causes it," she said. "And because we don't have that, it's really difficult to point out what exactly is making Kentucky a hotspot or why we see more severe cases in the sense of the extremes of age ranges."

As for Shelby, she will have check-ups every three months. In the meantime, her parents are counting their blessings.

"She's thriving now," said Riddle. "She's our miracle baby."

Kawasaki Disease occurs most often in Japan, where it was first discovered.

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