Abstract
In October 2000, a parent-based organization to promote awareness of Kawasaki Disease (KD) was formed in Boston, MA. The Kawasaki Disease Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to (1) increasing awareness to promote early detection and treatment, (2) facilitating family support, and (3) raising funds for research. Some of the Foundation's current projects include a made-for-television documentary and educational video, appealing to the U.S. Congress to allocate funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create a sentinel hospital surveillance program, managing a nation-wide network of trained support volunteers, and presenting regional educational conferences for families. The first family conference was the Kawasaki Disease Parent's Educational Symposium in Boston, MA in October 2000. Similar events are being planned for 2002 in Washington, D.C., and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In contrast to Japan, where KD is a relatively common illness, parents in the United States perceive a great need to educate both lay and professional audiences about KD, its treatment, and potential sequelae. For more information, please visit www.kdfoundation.org.
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Chin, G. The Kawasaki Disease Foundation: A Parent Organization in the United States to Promote Awareness and Education about Kawasaki Disease. Pediatr Res 53, 187 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200301000-00202
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200301000-00202