33 MD for January 6, 2009

Not many people are familiar with Kawasaki's Disease, but after all the press on Jett Travolta's death people want to know more about it. The disease affects only 19 out of every 100,000 kids in the U.S.

It's a scare no parent wants. Only 6 years old at the time, little Sybrice Tucker had such a high fever; her parents rushed her to the hospital.

Sybil Tucker, Sybrice's mother, said, "What had me alarmed was when I started to see a rash on her back and her eyes got really blood shot red."

Doctors at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa, Florida diagnosed her with Kawasaki’s disease.

That was in 2006. Tampa General's Doctor John McCormic says the disease mostly affects kids younger than 5. "They have a very, very high fever, 103-105 usually. It just doesn't seem to get better."

No one knows what causes Kawasaki's, but doctors believe some kids, like those from Japan, might be more vulnerable because of their genes. After the fever, an infection like staph, strep, or a virus sets in, and then causes the immune system to overreact. About 20% develop heart problems.

"There can be damage to the arteries that supply blood to the heart which can cause damage to the heart itself which can cause complications, long term, into adulthood from that."

Treatment with an IV antibody can reduce heart complication by about 60%. It is a treatment that had little Sybrice playing again.

The high fever associated with Kawasaki's Disease will last four to five days. Other symptoms include: blood shot eyes, a swollen lymph node in the neck, swelling or a rash on hands or feet, and changes around the mouth.

Also on the medical beat, can carbs be just as addictive as cigarettes? Researchers say "yes." A report in the journal "Medical Hypotheses" says eating heavily processed carbohydrates can lead to an addiction. Experts say eating processed foods like cereals and breads can quickly spike your blood sugar. This rush is known to stimulate the same brain receptors linked to drug addiction.