What often triggers jaundice in Kawasaki disease?

In the context of Kawasaki disease, vasculitis is a fundamental process that underlies many of the symptoms, including jaundice. Kawasaki disease is known for causing inflammation in blood vessels, particularly the coronary arteries, and this systemic vasculitis can lead to various complications.

In this scenario, jaundice can manifest due to the effects of vasculitis on the liver and the overall inflammatory response. Inflammation can impair blood flow and lead to dysfunction in liver function, potentially causing bile flow obstruction and subsequent jaundice.

While hemolysis and cholestasis are conditions that can also lead to jaundice, they are not primary mechanisms triggered by Kawasaki disease itself. Hemolysis refers to the destruction of red blood cells, and cholestasis involves impaired bile flow, both of which can lead to an increase in bilirubin levels, but in the context of Kawasaki disease, vasculitis remains the central feature that connects the disease's inflammatory response to the occurrence of jaundice.