Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Recurring HIGH fever in a 1 year old..

Hi. My son is 13 months old. Since he was about 5 months old, he has off and on developed fevers. He developed teeth early ( he has 13 teeth now) and had several colds from daycare. At the age of around 8 months old, he developed a 106 fever and was rushed to the ER. They sent us home that night with antibiotics and said it was a virus. Since then, yes since then.. he has had a fever on and off. A week has not gone by without developing a fever in between the range of 100-105. Many times, he has no other sympton AT ALL. Now, it has been 7 weeks with recurring HIGH ( 101-104) FEVER. Every time we take him to the doctor, they say it is justa virus and to let it pass. I cannot take this "virus thing" as the answer anymore. Is it just me? Am I crazy or is this abnormal? What does this sound like to you? I need a doctor to help him!
174 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I've been reading the forum for a few weeks now and decided to start my own temperature diary for my daughter.  She is 18 months old and has been getting fevers since she was about 8 months old.  They kept telling me it's a virus, ear infections, her teeth, and just common colds.  I know that some of the times that was probably true.  But here lately she has been keeping a temp. of 99.7 - 100.8.  There seems to be no break like everyone lists above.  She really doesn't have a period when she doesn't have a fever (always taken rectally).  Although, last month there was about 1 week when she was at a normal temp. but that one week is it.  She eats pretty well, plays great and sleeps really good at night.  To look at her and watch her you wouldn't know she had a temp.  I'm really confused.  I know she doesn't have a virus - there's no way it would last this long.  Does a constant temperture fall under the symptoms of PFAPA? Any help or advise would be wonderful!!! Please!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My 4.5 year old son is "prone to fevers" and I'm looking for a solution.  This thread has been helpful.  What I read is that, while it can be caused by many things that can be tested for, that it's the immune system reacting, sometimes mildly and sometimes perhaps overreacting.

I think my plan of approach is going to start with an IgG allergy test for food sensitivities.  Test for heavy metal toxicity in his body.  Along with persisting a low sugar/white flour/dyes/artificial anything diet.  Depending on the results of those tests, going on something like a GAPS diet that helps heal the gut.

Helpful - 0
999780 tn?1263671971
Broc was dx with PFAPA and that is why we had his tonsils out in Feb. He was just in the hospital again.It started with strep,then the next day he was admitted with a high fever and low WBC.He was in hospital for 7 days.Testing came back and he had parvovirus B19 and para influenza virus.He slept for 5 days straight. We then came home and tested for cyclic neutropenia and that came back negative after 6 weeks.We are now seeing an immunologist/allergist next Thursday.I am eagerly waiting to see what happens.He was dx with strep again this past Wed and is on Zithromycin again.He just had that a few weeks ago for a bad sinus infection. I have noticed that he only runs a normal temp on antibiotics unless its a virus.When he is well his temp if from 97.9F-98.3 then when he is not well it goes from 99.6F-100.8F.Then when he is really ill it goes from 101F-104F.
I have been looking at his fever/sick diary and it seems like he will be ill for 12-16 days and then a 3-4 day break and then sick again.Its really crazy.I really hope immu/allergy can find some more answers for us.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Try seeing an allergist.

There are blood tests that can detect whether the infection is viral or bacterial.  The key is finding what is causing the virus.  My little one KEPT getting pneumonia and it turned out she was allergic to peanuts and we had been giving her PB&J sandwhiches.  He may be fighting virus that is being spawned by an allergic reaction or a series of them.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
PFAPA!!!!
Many of you have described your children's illness as reoccurring every 2 to 6 weeks or so with a fever of 100 to 106, or so.  This sounds just like PFAPA.  My older daughter has suffered with it her entire childhood to date and she has just turned 10.  It began around 6 to 8 months.  She would begin getting a fever with symptoms of a rash in her throat(not strep) a head ache, a stomach ache and lethargy. This would last 3 days to 2 weeks each time.  Every time doctors would say it was yet another virus and I would argue it was more.  When she was about 3 we moved and had to get a new doctor who had just had another patient with PFAPA so he caught it immediately!
Now...Bad news.  There really isn't much you can do but wait it out.  You can administer a steroid that will make them feel better in a day or so but research shows it causes the symptoms to cycle at a faster pace and upon trying the steroid a couple times, this is true.  She became sick again sooner.  Not to mention the side effects of steroids on a child are miserable, she would have uncontrollable tantrums.  It was not worth it.  They told me PFAPA would wear off at about 8years old and it sort of did.  The long bouts of sickness ended but to this day she will still spike small fevers with a headache and belly ache but only for a day or two and she is able to tell us so we can knock it out quickly with motrin.  
Sorry to go on but thought several of you may want to know how this works since it is fairly uncommon.  I suggest loading your cabinets with Children's Motrin and Children's Benedril(sometimes they just need help sleeping) and plan on MANY hours of cuddling!
It proved to be harder on us than on her.  Broke our hearts in fact!  But she's a really tough kid now when she's sick!  :)
Good Luck!
Helpful - 0
999780 tn?1263671971
Oh I am so happy that you found a dr that will work with you.Once we found the right ped we were so happy.Broc had his tonsils,adenoids out and another set of ear tubes put in in Feb this year and we were told there would be a +- 3-4 months for a full recovery for the body to adjust.Broc was ill since his T&A surgery but that was because he was ill before and also it was Winter.He does have reflux so had aspiration pneumonia and a sinus infection.Then after April he was well.I mean no fevers , nothing and then this past 2 weeks he was ill with no fever but ended up being an upper resp. infection. He had strep throat 10 times last year.I really think the T and A surgery will be a great idea.
I hope you will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Pediatrics Community

Top Children's Health Answerers
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Is a gluten-free diet right for you?
We answer your top questions about the flu vaccine.
Learn which over-the-counter medicines are safe for you and your baby
Yummy eats that will keep your child healthy and happy
Healing home remedies for common ailments