Travel Insurance for Kawasaki Disease

What is Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease causes inflammation in the walls of blood vessels around the body. It mostly affects children under five, and nobody yet knows exactly what triggers it. The main sign is a high temperature lasting five days or more, often with a rash, red eyes, cracked red lips, swollen glands in the neck and swollen hands and feet. It belongs with the blood and circulatory conditions because of its effect on the blood vessels, including those supplying the heart.

Children are treated in hospital, usually with immunoglobulin through a drip and with aspirin. Most recover fully within a couple of months. A small number develop swelling or widening of the coronary arteries (an aneurysm), which needs longer-term follow-up with a heart specialist and sometimes ongoing medication. The NHS Kawasaki disease page has the full picture.

Why do I need to declare Kawasaki disease for travel insurance?

Kawasaki disease is usually a childhood illness, but it counts as a pre-existing medical condition where the screening asks about it, particularly if the heart was involved or check-ups are ongoing. We need to know because a small number of people are left with coronary artery changes, which can raise the risk of heart problems abroad and may mean taking blood thinning medicine.

If it isn’t declared, a claim linked to it could be refused or reduced.

Can I get travel insurance with Kawasaki disease?

Often, yes, whether the policy is for a child who has had it recently or an adult who had it years ago. The screening result decides whether cover can be offered. A child who recovered without any heart involvement is usually viewed quite differently from one with a coronary aneurysm, on blood thinning medicine, or still under regular review. Recent hospital treatment and any planned tests matter too, and other heart conditions are screened as well.

What we’ll ask about Kawasaki disease

Our online screening is quick and straightforward, whether you’re doing it for yourself or a child. It asks a short set of questions relevant to Kawasaki disease, and the result is shown the moment you finish.

Seeing your result

As soon as the questions are answered, you’ll get the outcome. The quote shows whether Kawasaki disease has been accepted, and if it has, the price you see already includes it. Anything that can’t be included is flagged before you buy.

If something changes before the trip

Please tell us about any changes between buying cover and travelling. A new diagnosis, a change in medication, a hospital stay or a referral for heart tests all count. We might need to review the policy, and a change that isn’t passed on could affect a related claim.

What Kawasaki disease travel insurance can cover

Once accepted, Kawasaki disease is treated like any other declared condition. If a teenager who had a coronary aneurysm as a toddler developed chest pain on a family holiday in Florida, emergency hospital treatment could be covered, along with repatriation if a medical escort home was needed. This is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

Plans can also be disrupted beforehand. If a related problem means a doctor advises against travel, cancellation cover may help with non-refundable costs.

The policy won’t pay for routine follow-up or treatment that was planned abroad, or for anything connected to a condition that wasn’t declared.

Single trip or annual cover with Kawasaki disease

Booked one holiday? Single trip insurance will usually do the job. Families who get away several times a year may prefer annual travel insurance, though this depends on the screening result.

Will Kawasaki disease affect the cost of travel insurance?

Kawasaki disease is often a long way in the past, but it can still affect the price, and the result of online medical screening decides whether it does. You may be asked how it was treated and how well any heart effects are controlled today. Like any quote, the traveller’s age, destination and trip length play a part. You see the price before buying.

Travelling with Kawasaki disease: practical tips

This is general travel advice. It isn’t part of your insurance.

Timing matters after recent treatment. Immunoglobulin can stop some live vaccines, such as MMR and chickenpox, from working properly, so these are often delayed for several months. If you’re planning a trip that needs vaccinations, speak to your GP or a travel clinic early and check the TravelHealthPro country pages for your destination.

Children still taking aspirin should only take it as prescribed. Ask the specialist team what to do if your child catches flu or chickenpox while you’re away, and pack a supply that will last the whole trip. Don’t give any extra aspirin bought abroad.

If your child has had heart involvement, ask the cardiology team whether there are any limits on activity, flying or very hot climates. Carry a copy of their latest clinic letter, especially for a long-haul trip, so a doctor abroad can see their history quickly.

For anyone recovering from a recent episode, a quieter holiday closer to home can be easier. Tiredness and joint aches sometimes linger for a few weeks.

1. pack medicines in hand luggage in their original packaging
2. bring a copy of the prescription and any medical letters
3. find out where the nearest hospital with children’s services is

How to get a quote

Add the details of the trip and everyone travelling, then answer the medical questions about Kawasaki disease. You’ll see the price and what has been accepted before you buy.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Circulatory Pages

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Travel Insurance
• Atherosclerosis Travel Insurance
• Blood Clots Travel Insurance
• Brain Aneurysm Travel Insurance
• Cardiovascular Disease Travel Insurance
• Deep Vein Thrombosis Travel Insurance
• Haemophilia Travel Insurance
• High Blood Pressure Travel Insurance
• High Cholesterol Travel Insurance
• Iron Deficiency Anaemia Travel Insurance
• Kawasaki Disease Travel Insurance
• Low Blood Pressure Travel Insurance
• Lymphoedema Travel Insurance
• Peripheral Vascular Disease Travel Insurance
• Pulmonary Embolism Travel Insurance
• Pulmonary Hypertension Travel Insurance
• Sickle Cell Disease Travel Insurance
• Stroke Travel Insurance
• Thalassaemia Travel Insurance
• Transient Ischaemic Attack Travel Insurance
• Varicose Veins Travel Insurance
• Vascular Dementia Travel Insurance

Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.

Browse by condition type

Autoimmune

Blood & Circulatory

Cancer

Diabetes & Hormonal

Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Gastrointestinal & Digestive

Heart

Infections

Kidney, Liver & Urinary

Mental Health

Musculoskeletal

Neurological

Respiratory

Skin

Other

Get A Quote