No Link Between Kawasaki, Travolta Death

Childhood Kawasaki Disease Unlikely Cause Of Seizures In Travolta's Teenage Son Jett Travolta

(WebMD)  Jett Travolta's childhood brush with Kawasaki disease is highly unlikely to have caused the seizures that may have led to his death, a
Kawasaki expert tells WebMD.

Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston, died on Jan. 2. The teen, known to have suffered frequent seizures, struck his head against the bathtub in the hotel where his family was staying, according to media reports.

Kawasaki disease is a mysterious and frightening illness. Might Kawasaki disease have caused Jett Travolta's seizures?

WebMD asked Kawasaki disease expert Nathan Litman, MD, chief of infectious disease and director of pediatrics at New York's Montefiore Medical Center.

"I am unaware of any association of Kawasaki disease with seizures," Litman tells WebMD.

Kawasaki disease can leave a person with an abnormally narrow coronary artery, and this can lead to a future heart attack. Early reports suggest Jett Travolta did not suffer a heart attack; an autopsy is under way.

Kawasaki Disease: Mysterious Ailment on the Rise

Nobody knows what causes Kawasaki disease, but it can be deadly. It's not common in the U.S., although incidence is increasing in Japan.

First described in Japanese medical literature by pediatrician Tomisaku
Kawasaki, MD, the disease is a disease of childhood. Litman says 80% of cases occur in children under 5. Cases are very rare in anyone over the age of 10.

John Travolta has said in interviews that his son had Kawasaki disease when he was about 2 years old. In an interview with CNN's Larry King in 2001, Travolta expressed the opinion that the illness was brought on by Jett's overexposure to cleaning products, particularly carpet cleaner.

Science has yet to discover the cause, although most researchers think it's an infectious agent, probably a virus.

That would account for why it strikes early in life, why most cases occur in the winter, and why there are Kawasaki outbreaks. But an infectious agent would likely spread in families, and Litman says it's rare to see more than one child in a family come down with Kawasaki disease.

The classic symptom of Kawasaki disease - technically known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome - is a high fever lasting for five days or longer. Other symptoms include:

Pinkeye (conjunctivitis ) in both eyes, but without purulent
discharge.

Redness of the lips, tongue, and lining of the mouth. Lips are often cracked or bleeding.

A swollen cervical lymph node larger than 1.5 millimeters in diameter.

A red rash on the body, which may be flat or bumpy and which may have different patterns.

Changes in the extremities: swollen hands and feet with redness of the palms and soles. In the second week of illness, there may be peeling of the skin starting around the fingernails and extending to the arms.

Kawasaki disease is diagnosed when a child has five days of high fever and any four of the five symptoms listed above.

There may be other troublesome features, Litman says: swelling of the gallbladder, diarrhea, and painful swelling of the joints. But the scariest thing about Kawasaki disease is its possible effects on the heart.

Kawasaki Disease and Heart Trouble

"The most troublesome feature of Kawasaki disease is involvement of the heart," Litman says. "What worries everyone is that in the convalescent phase, about 10 days into the illness, there may be inflammation of the coronary arteries, which can result in aneurysm formation. This can cause turbulence throughout the artery and cause [narrowing] of the artery, which could cause a heart attack."

If not treated, one in five children with Kawasaki disease would get coronary aneurysms. Fortunately, treatment cuts this risk to about one in 20.

Treatment involves a high dose of immune globulin and a high-dose aspirin until the fever goes down. Once the fever goes away, the child's aspirin dose is reduced and doctors perform an echocardiogram to check for heart abnormalities.

"This generally results in a return to a happy state," Litman says.
"In kids who do develop aneurysms, some may resolve, but this may still be a forerunner of adult-type coronary artery disease. They may be left with residual stenosis [narrowing of a heart artery] that can cause a future heart attack."

So if Kawasaki disease didn't cause Jett Travolta's seizures, what did?
Seizures are the result of an electrical storm in a part of the brain. Some people simply develop frequent seizures for no apparent reason. Sometimes the cause is a trauma, infection, or tumor.

Media reports have suggested that Jett Travolta may have suffered from autism. The Church of Scientology, of which his parents are members, does not believe that autism is a valid diagnosis, and the Travolta family has rejected the idea that Jett had autism.

However, among children diagnosed with autism, there is a high prevalence of seizure disorder.

[davisrogers]

This is truly sad, and for reliable media such as CBS to add gossip news to their post makes me to wounder what has happen to real news? Thank Mr. Daniel DeNoon for providing the facts of this still unknown disease.

[tmittelstaed]

One of the tenets of Scientology is that mental illness is psychosomatic. This is a belief that has no basis in science - and indeed most of Scientology isn''t based on anything logical. (In fact the Church of Scientology''s tax free status is dependent on the premise that ALL of Scientology is a religious belief, and therefore has no basis on any logical science) Thus, of course the Church and Jeff''s parents aren''t going to believe that autism was a valid diagnosis - and obviously, since they didn''t believe in it, they never had Jeff evaulated for autism.
In any case, it really doesn''t matter if he had autism or not since seizures can be caused by many things - Jeff obviously had a seizure in the bath and fell - cause of death was the fall, not the seizure or the cause of the seizure.
Many people die every year due to falls, even those people who are careful and take precautions against falling. This is just a sad accident.

[davisrogers]

Here are the facts Jett had been taking an anti-seizure medication, Depakote, but over time, the drug%u2019s effectiveness had worn off. Fact, Jet also had Kawasaki syndrome. Kawasaki syndrome - Some of these symptoms may come and go during the course of the illness. If left untreated, the symptoms will eventually relent, but coronary artery aneurysms will not improve, resulting in a significant risk of death or disability due to myocardial infarction (heart attack). Approximately 2000-4000 cases are identified in the United States each year. The combination of multiple disease can cause high risk of death.

[ladyluv5]

This is a very sad situation. In one hand you have a family who lost their son, on the other hand you have the media, gossip sites, and people saying how they could of saved their son, or how their religion is the cause of their sons death. No matter is they practiced Buddhism, Jehovah Witness, Christianity, or Islam we would be gossiping about what they did wrong. It very sad that we as American people have stooped so low. We all need to keep this family and others who have lost a family member to the same disease in prayer.

[mcapek]

Achh...newspeople = medical morons. I suggest you correct the "lymph node greater than 1.5 mm". It should be greater than 1.5 centimeters (10 fold difference).

[credibility2]

We''ll never really know what caused the terribly untimely death of this child. That Kawasaki disease was bandied about as an inference was a bit odd. I''m inclined to believe that more than likely the child had untreated autism which became more severe without certain medications which Scientology rejects. I''m certain the Travolta''s dearly loved their child, but I''m also saddened that perhaps their fanaticism with their "religion" possibly could''ve interfered with this child living a longer, perhaps more fruitful life. Too much will be covered up and the truth will never be known.

[pat1967-2009]

LadyLuv5,

What I am actually tired of is seeing this story in the front page news for several days now. People die all the time and barely warrant a mention in the obits. Where the comments about Scientology come from, is when John Travolta goes on TV talking about how cleaning chemicals caused Kawasaki Syndrome. The truth is that doctors don''t know what causes Kawasaki syndrome, just that it happens from time to time, but does not exhibit seizures. Jett Travolta, from what is known, seems to have exhibited signs of some form of autism or other mental disorder. The direct criticism of Scientology comes from its denial of mental disorders, despite decades of intense research on the subject.

[debinok1]

The worst part of this is the actual cause of death will never be known. His parents had the autopsy performed outside the U.S. and had the body cremated outside the U.S. so any chance of a second autopsy is gone. Of course add to the fact that the parents are famous makes it even less likely that any further investigation will be done.

[ladyluv5]

pat1967 and other people who are against Scientology, can I ask what religion you practice? I must say I am a Christian, a Zion at that I believe that everyone in America has right to practice any region they so please as long as they do not physically hurt anyone. This family lost a son and they are celebrities so of course this will receive prime news attention.

For those who are against Scientology I would like to ask what religion you practice is you even have a religion.

[pat1967-2009]

LadyLuv5

"as long as they do not physically hurt anyone"

I would say that a parents'' failure to treat a child for a disorder because they deny that the condition exists is physically harming someone. My own religion is irrelevant to the argument and is a red herring. I am a libertarian who believes that anyone should be allowed to do anything they like as long as others are not harmed.

[ladyluv5]

DebinOK1

"You can die during a seizure because of some manifestations in the brain," says retired forensic pathologist and former Detroit-area medical examiner Dr. Werner Spitz.

"It is not unusual that people die from a seizure disorder where the seizure disorder is known...If he has a known seizure disorder documented by medical records and he was treated as such, then that is almost a given."

"But you might not find an absolute cause of death when seizures are the cause," Spitz added. "The absolute cause would take at least two weeks so everything can be tested."

[debinok1]

For those who are against Scientology I would like to ask what religion you practice is you even have a religion.

Posted by LadyLuv5
*****************
I am not AGAINST scientology. I just question the validity of a religion founded by a Speculative fiction Writer.

[debinok1]

"It is not unusual that people die from a seizure disorder where the seizure disorder is known...If he has a known seizure disorder documented by medical records and he was treated as such, then that is almost a given."

"But you might not find an absolute cause of death when seizures are the cause," Spitz added. "The absolute cause would take at least two weeks so everything can be tested."

Posted by LadyLuv5
*******************
I am well aware of the risks and dangers associated with seizures. I have a family history of Epilepsy. My sister has suffered from seizures since birth she is now 41. They can be controlled with proper monitoring and medication. Death is always a possibility with Epilepsy and other Seizure disorders. The instances of death when the patient is monitored and medication adjusted is rare. I still question why Jett was not brought back to the U.S. for autopsy and cremation.

[ladyluv5]

DebinOK1

I agree with your opinion in regards to why Jett was not brought back to the U.S. for autopsy and cremation, but at the end of the day that is where the family wanted him to be cremated. My former neighbor (R.I.P.) was a 89 year old African American women. She died in November at home beside her husband who is 95 and can''t walk. The cause of death people say was "old age". No one question the doctor''s report. She was cremated the following day. Her religion is Episcopal. So why should we question this case. At the end of the day the family is hart broken.

[lucasnico]

For those who are against Scientology I would like to ask what religion you practice is you even have a religion.

Posted by LadyLuv5

Is you even have a religion? Is you is or is you ain''t my baby!

[skeezix06]

Does it really matter if there is a link between Kawasaki and Jett Travolta''s death? He''s gone and his parents have no doubt had their hearts broken. Let it go.

[godofredo29]

WebMD is not a source of medical information one can trust.

[spiritwalk]

For those who are against Scientology I would like to ask what religion you practice is you even have a religion.

Posted by LadyLuv5
*****************
My religion is not a based on a story about souls coming from UFO''s that was thought up by a science fiction writer who lived on a yaucht with adolescent boys.
I saw that Tom Cruise rant on YouTube where he said psychology was a fraud and "We are the experts on the mind". He the wentt on to proclaim how when a scientologist sees and auto accident that they must get involved and help and cannot turn away.
Two weeks later some poor deluded woman showed up at his house and he called the police and had her taken to a psychology ward. So much for pyscholgy being a fraud and getting involed.
BS!

[liselle3]

You know what folks? The private matter of losing a son in such a heartbreaking way is a matter for this family not for public debate. You can debate all you want, but until you are a direct member of the Travolta family, it is simply none of your business.

[rmonroe401]

For those who are against Scientology I would like to ask what religion you practice is you even have a religion.

Posted by LadyLuv5

Scientology is not a religion, its the result of bad science fiction writing. Its more like a disease itself. It affects the logical thinking part of the brain, kinda like a brain disorder. Because anyone who believes a guy who at one time said that he wanted to make millions off of a false religion must have some form of a brain injury.

[cbscrash072]

Kawasaki disease causes five days of high fever. Thats where your seizures and autism came from.

[rmonroe401]

liselle3,

I think it is the public''s business only because a minor was involved. We must protect children since they do not have the power or ability to stand up for themselves. I don''t think turning a blind eye in this cause is at all appropriate. If this poor boy was not given the proper medical treatment of his ailments then the parents should be responsible, whether the parents are famous or just some ordinary citizen. It shouldn''t matter the status of the parents, they should be responsible for their children. This reminds me of cases where extremist religious types refuse to take their children to the hospital or doctor when they are sick since they believe Jesus will come down and cure them. It''s child abuse in my opinion! I am not saying the Travolta''s did this, but it is possible and should be investigated at the least.

[rmonroe401]

DavisRogers,

I am confused by your comment, Daniel DeNoon is the author of this news story, so what do you mean by gossip since you are thanking the author of the story?

[centerfall94]

This isn''t a news story. Someone is REALLY bored.

[litlrig]

The Travolta family has just lost a child, I think the media should take a step back and give the family time to grieve their loss.

[avigil2]

I concur with betnblonde. Let them grieve in privacy. You would want the same.

[peetrerb]

I''m sure no-one suspects foul play. whether he had Kawasaki or not... he had problems. Whether you think Scientology is nuts... its another form of religion. I can''t believe the bright people that join it. Let''s all get on the Jimmy Jones cruise!

[gifthorsie]

Interesting to know Kawasaki does not cause seizures. I hope he was getting seizure meds. Such a sad story. I feel very sorry for the family.
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