[amaza]

I'll preface by saying that I am not asking for a diagnosis or medical advice. I'm just asking if anybody has had any similar experience and what it turned out to be.

My 6yo DS had has a temperature of between 38.4 and 40.6 since last Tuesday. I manged to get it to a relatively normal 37.6 for about 2 hours on Saturday morning but it has not been in the normal range since. His temperature has averaged at about 39.3 and has been 40.5 or above on 7 separate occasions.

He is extremely fatigued and my very boisterous child has basically sat in a a chair for days. He is alert and aware of what his happening around him but is not himself at all. He is quite a big complainer if he has to shower or do homework or go to bed etc (typical stuff) but he hasn't put up a fuss over anything this week. He has just had his head down and does what he has to slowly and quietly - which is very much not like him.

He has lost nearly 2 kg in the 10 days.

He had complained of a sore throat on the first day he got a fever but has not complained of anything since (except a tummy ache at the hospital on Monday that I think was half exaggerated so the nurses wouldn't take so long). He says he hasn't got a sore head, throat, arm, leg, tummy, neck etc. He said he doesn't feel sick.

He went to a dr on Friday night last week (day 3 of fever) who requested we see him again on Saturday. On Saturday the dr basically gave instructions to keep fluids into him and watch him closely. He was very unwell over the weekend and basically just slept the whole time so on Monday I decided he needed the dr again. The dr asked us to visit the hospital because 6 days of temps is unusual and he wanted further testing done. The hospital tested his urine (one nurse said it had small traces of blood but the dr said tests were clear), gave him panadol, took his temp a couple of times and gave him water to drink. They didn't get his temp down but decided that it was an infection of some sort but not serious and told us to watch him.

Since then he has still been fatigued, pale and generally looks unwell. I've tested his temperature multiple times each day and each time the temp is between 38.4-40.5 degrees. I actually thought the thermometer was broken or inaccurate and tested it on DS2 who came back with a normal reading.

Today DS1 went back to the dr and has now had blood taken. I'm not sure what was tested because his dad took him and didn't think to ask. The dr has said it's a bit concerning having a temp for so long. The have said it can be up to Monday before results are in although the dr is open on Saturday so I'm hoping we will have an answer by then at least.

Has anybody's child had anything similar before? I'm beginning to get quite concerned. I know that I should just wait for the results before letting my imagination run away but I just can't think of any time that I've heard of a childs temperature being that high for so long. Surely it's getting past the 'infection fighting' stage and can't be good for him to have a temp like that?

TIA

This post has been edited by amaza: 03/12/2012, 07:07 AM

[His Boy Elroy]

There is a virus going around, well in Brisbane anyhow.

My DD (4) had a similar temps to your son since Sunday and she has been living on panadol and neurofen. We have been to see our GP and a bacterial infection was ruled out and we were told to keep fluids etc up.

I think (touch wood) that we have turned the corner as she hasnt had any panadol/neurofen since 1pm and the fever hasnt returned.

She had bad tummy aches aswell and generally miserable.

However, she now has a shocker blocked nose and I think she may have sinus so she's going back to the GP tomorrow to get that checked.

My DD's FDC mum told me that she knows of a couple of kids that have had the same virus and it apparently is lasting for at least a week.

I hope he improves soon.

This post has been edited by His Boy Elroy: 30/11/2012, 12:16 AM

[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

Poor little thing.

The only time obey if my kids had anything remotely like that it only lasted 3 days and then she got a rash. Turned out to be roseola. The rash came out and the temp went back to normal.

Roseola is a mild viral infection that affects babies and young children. The raised, red skin rash and high temperature can last from a few hours to five days. Roseola is caused by one of the viruses in the herpes group, but this virus can't cause other herpes infections, such as cold sores. The rash may be confused with measles or rubella.

Hope they can figure what it is soon.

[anotherid]

I'd be asking the GP/ED to carefully observe/test for this....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_disease

It needs early treatment if this is what is is.

All the best OP. Let us know how you go.

[anotherid]

This is heaps easier to read...

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/kawasaki.html


If he has any of these symptoms head straight back to ED tonight. Take a print out of it if you like and highlight his symptoms. It is rare and has been known to be misdiagnosed or diagnosed extremely late.

This post has been edited by anotherid: 30/11/2012, 12:34 AM

[His Boy Elroy]

I wondered why my GP checked my DD's genital area when we were there on Tuesday..............he must have been thinking Kawasaki Disease because of the fever but lack of any other symptoms apart from fever...

[amaza]

Thank you all.

TZ, He doesn't have an unusual rash. He has very sensitive skin and has remnants of a nasty excema left over on his back/buttock from winter, however, there is nothing on his front and nothing to suggest it has begun again.

Thanks for the link to Kawasaki disease anotherid. He did have quite red lips for a few days and I actually put that down to him being so pale. It was something that I noticed though. Looking at him this morning those lips are back to a normal colour now. The only other symptom that I would say in that list is slightly red hands with dry skin. I wouldn't say they are peeling though, just dry. They are definitely not swollen. If I hadn't read that link and saw his hands at any normal time I would think nothing of it. Therefore, I won't read into it as anything sinister (well I'll try not to lol) because no other symptoms are present except obviously the high fever, which again this morning is in the mid 38's.

Thanks HisboyElroy. I hope your DD has woken up much better this morning too. It sucks when they are sick doesn't it.

Thanks again.

This post has been edited by amaza: 30/11/2012, 06:53 AM

[lsolaBella]

We had around 7-10 days if fever this year with a bug. Hit all three of my kids. 7 days where their temps didn't get below 39.5 and then another few above 38.5.

DD was over 40 for 4 days straight.

Eta Ypres we had been to the Dr multiple times, and then I found out about the bug going around at school which was doing this to others.



This post has been edited by lsolaBella: 30/11/2012, 06:59 AM

[cinnabubble]

My two year old has had intermittent high temperatures for more than a week. She'll go up to 48 hours being OK and then the temp will spike, usually in the early hours of the morning. She's not very hungry and doesn't argue about going in the stroller, so I know she's not well. She claims, at different times, to have a tummy ache and sore ears.

We have seen three different doctors. The first said it was a virus, the second an ear infection and the third a virus. Her temperature has stayed down for a couple of days and she's sleeping all night again, so hopefully she's on the mend.

One of my colleagues said her friend's doctor -- so a reliable source of anecdata -- told her that there's a virus going around that leaves a longish bout of post-viral fatigue and it sounds like what my daughter is going through now.

[Natttmumm]

The only thing I can add - DD2 had a random temp for 8 days and it ended up being Adenovirus which didnt become obvious until day 8. The hospital suspected meningistis and tested for that which it wasnt (Another possibility).

On day 8 they were concerned and realy couldnt work it out so they gave her 2 doses of antibiotics injections. The next day the tests came back positive for Adenovirus but the temp was gone. I suspect there was an underlying infection.

DD1 had a high temp for 2 weeks and they couldnt work it out - she was 2. In the end again she was given antibiotics by the GP who suspected tonsilitis even though it wasnt obvious. 24 hours after the antibiotics she was fine.

I would go to the GP ask for antibiotics to see if it helps. I cant see the down side.