What is Kawasaki disease characterized by?

Kawasaki disease is characterized primarily by a systemic vasculitis that affects medium-sized arteries, especially the coronary arteries. It typically occurs in children under the age of five and is known to cause inflammation in the blood vessel walls. This inflammation can lead to complications such as coronary artery dilation or aneurysm if not treated promptly.

The condition is not caused by an infectious agent; rather, its exact etiology remains elusive, although it is thought to involve an abnormal immune response. Symptoms often include a high fever lasting more than five days, rash, conjunctival injection, changes in the lips and oral cavity, and cervical lymphadenopathy, but it does not present as a skin allergy or chronic respiratory illness. Thus, the focus on vascular wall involvement makes the correct answer the most aligned with the core characteristics of Kawasaki disease.