DS8 fever AGAIN!

[sms]

My DS8 keeps getting fevers. It happens every few weeks. Took him to the Dr and they said 'rest and fluids'. Another time gave him an antibiotic. It just keeps happening. Fevers are around 102-103. Tylenol brings it down for a while but comes right back up again. Have to go for another opinion tomorrow I guess. Don't know what else to do. What do you guys think? Ever experienced this?

 

[Goofyluver]

My DS8 keeps getting fevers. It happens every few weeks. Took him to the Dr and they said 'rest and fluids'. Another time gave him an antibiotic. It just keeps happening. Fevers are around 102-103. Tylenol brings it down for a while but comes right back up again. Have to go for another opinion tomorrow I guess. Don't know what else to do. What do you guys think? Ever experienced this?

If it keeps happening, don't settle for non-answers.

I'd keep good records. Keep dates on calendars, how long fevers last, how high they go, and what, if any, other symptoms accompany the fevers.

If your doc can't give you answers, go elsewhere.

 

[sparklynails23]

He probably needs a different antibiotic, for a longer period. There's something that hasn't cleared up. I've heard of so many people with weird complexes this year that could have possibly been prevented by early antibiotic intervention. It seems that the pendulum has swung too far the other way.

 

[bellebud]

have they taken blood work yet?

 

[Raising Disney Kids]

My very healthy, full term, no issues DS4 suffered from the same thing for 9 months (about 2 years ago). His fevers would be 104-105...even had a seizure because of the rapid onset one time. My Pedi (who I love) and the other docs in the practice were at a loss. I took DS everytime to the pedi....did blood work, gave strep throat tests, checked his ears, urine cultures......all fine. My older children (DDs 7 & 5) did not have anything. The fevers lasted for 4-5 days and were VERY predictible. Alternated Tylenol and Motril EVERY 3 hours faithfully. The fevers disappeared as quickly as they came on but always returned like clockwork. I live in Boston and took my son to Children's Hospital here.

After some research I found a doctor who was studying the same periodic fever symdrome in his own child. After going to a rheumatologist and ruling out "known" periodic fever diseases, the "somewhat experiemental" treatment was to remove my son's tonsils. He has NEVER has a fever since! The doctor said they rule out everything else and then remove the tonsils.....they have had a VERY high cure rate. I was not anxious to operate unnecessarily on the 2 years old, but we were in somewhat dire straits!

Do some research on "PFAPA" Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis

Best of luck!

 

[JDX4]

I sent you a private message.

 

[3boymthr]

do you live in or have you visited an area that has deer ticks? If yes, have your DS tested for lyme disease. Although they constantly advertise the bulls eye rash as a symptom a more common symptom is actually fevers. Middle DS had a series of fevers that ran in that range for days and because I'd found a few deer ticks on him I insisted he be tested - yup, it was lyme. A long term course of antibotics (6 weeks) and he was better.

I can think of one other child that had symptoms like this. I won't scare you with the diag but if they haven't already make sure to ask to have blood tests done.

 

[LisaR]

My suggestion is to take him to a pediatric infectious disease specialist. They will rule out every possible thing. They took so much blood from my son that they had to switch arms because they drained him dry in the first arm! Not fun but it really put my mind at ease because they checked him for everything. I found the pediatrician only did a basic blood workup and would order a different test here or there with every new fever. While the pediatrician ordered tests for things like lyme disease, the infectious disease doctor order multiple cultures for some of the same diseases which are far more accurate than a simple blood draw. Single best, most knowledgeable doctor I have ever met in my life (and I spent 10 years working in the medical field with all types of doctors).

 

[LMC]

My DS16 would run fevers of over 106 from the age of 10months to almost 3 years, every 4 to 6 weeks like clockwork. "Fevers of unknown origin" or "idiopathic fevers" is what they called them since all the blood work, xrays, spinals all came back negative every time. The pediatrician finally sent us to an immunologist (I had never heard of one) and he recommended I remove him from daycare, which I did, and he has not ever run fever since (even when he had scarlet fever!). His IgA levels were low. He's all better now except the fact that he does not run fevers so I never know when he is sick until it gets really bad. Good luck I know how you feel.

 

[sms]

have they taken blood work yet?

he hasn't had blood work in a while. That will be the next thing that happens though! Thanks!!

 

[sms]

Thanks everyone for your concerns and suggestions! I'll let you know what going on soon!