What treatment is often initiated for Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease is an acute, self-limited vasculitis that primarily affects children and can lead to severe complications, particularly involving the coronary arteries. The standard treatment for Kawasaki disease is the administration of high-dose aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Aspirin helps to reduce inflammation and prevent blood clots, while IVIG is critical for lowering the risk of coronary artery aneurysms that can arise due to the disease. The early administration of these therapies has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of cardiac complications in affected children.

Other treatment options listed are not appropriate for Kawasaki disease. For example, topical steroids are used for localized skin conditions and not systemic disease like Kawasaki. Antibiotics do not address the underlying pathophysiological process of Kawasaki disease, which is not an infectious etiology. Corticosteroids have a limited role and are not generally the first-line treatment for Kawasaki disease, as they may be reserved for cases that do not respond adequately to standard therapy.

Therefore, the combination of aspirin and IVIG is the cornerstone of treatment for Kawasaki disease, making it the correct choice for this question.