SAN DIEGO -- You've heard of flu season, but what about Kawasaki season? It's a severe childhood disease that many parents, even some doctors, mistake for the flu.

If not diagnosed or treated in time, it can lead to irreversible heart damage, 10News repoted.

The hallmarks of Kawasaki disease are body rash, prolonged fever, red, dry eyes, redness of the mouth, lips and tongue and swollen hands and feet.

Doctors at the University of California San Diego Medical Center are researching a new therapy to treat this mysterious disease.

"We are trying to find out the best way to treat children who have Kawasaki disease," Dr. Jane Burns said.

Burn said Kawaski disease strikes without warning, usually in the winter or spring. And unless it is treated within 10 days with a high dose of gamma globulin, irreversible heart damage can happen.

But for 15 percent of patients, gamma globulin doesn't work so doctors are using a drug called Remicade, as a potential treatment for Kawasaki disease, according to 10News.

Remicade is typically used for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

It binds to a molecule called TNF Alpha.

"It's kind of the gasoline that the body throws on the fire that makes everything worse," Burns said.

Burns said there needs to be an additional treatment option for this puzzling disease.

San Diego doctors see about 30 to 40 cases a year, but many go undiagnosed. Parents should be suspicious if their child has a prolonged fever and rash -- two of the first symptoms of Kawasaki disease.