§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will fund research into the cause, detection and treatment of Kawasaki disease;
(2) what information she has on the incidence of Kawasaki disease in (a) England and Wales, (b) the west midlands and (c) Birmingham in each of the last 12 years;
(3) what action she has taken to reduce deaths from Kawasaki disease;
(4) if she will ask the Chief Medical Officer to issue advice to general practitioners on the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease.
§ Mr. SackvilleKawasaki disease is an uncommon disease of childhood. Most children make a full recovery but, in a minority of cases, cardiac complications can arise. The following information is available centrally on the prevalence of the condition and deaths recorded:
Annual total cases Total number of cases Year England and Wales West Midlands region 1986 59 4 1987 72 3 1988 87 5 1989 81 6 1990 123 14 1991 151 15 1992 147 13 Source: British Paediatric Surveillance Unit.
Deaths from Kawasaki disease 1985–92 England West Midlands Birmingham 1989 — — — 1990 6 — — 1991 2 — — 1992 — — — Source: OPCS mortality statistics.
Information about the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki's disease is available to doctors. Although we are not aware of any current research directed specifically at this disease, basic research being carried out on pathology in childhood is relevant. The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC is always willing to consider for support soundly based new scientific proposals in competition with other applications.