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What Causes Recurrent Fever With History Of GERD?

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Posted on Mon, 12 May 2014
Question: I have a 16 month old toddler who was born full term at 38 weeks, 4 days by precipitous vaginal delivery. He had a sustained heart rate in the 60's for the last 7-10 minutes of labor that returned to normal at the time of delivery with APGARs of 8 and 9. He had dysphagia at birth, with overt aspiration during bottle and breast feeding and a swallow study at 28 days that demonstrated deep penetrations with everything except honey thickened liquids. He was weaned off thickened liquids at 6 months and now tolerates some fork-mashed foods but has oral-motor delay. He was also diagnosed with GERD by his pediatrician at 2 weeks though an impedance study at 8 weeks demonstrated only 72 episodes of reflux in a 24 hour period with little correlation to symptoms, and he had an EGD at 1 year with biopsies that was unremarkable. Reflux symptoms - coughing/sneezing/yawning during feeds, frequent spit-up - are well controlled with Prevacid. He is speech delayed and only babbles with 'mamama' and 'nanana' syllables at this time, but has met gross and fine motor milestones. He has had newborn and 1 year audiology testing that demonstrates no hearing deficit. He had three episodes of otits media between 8 and 10 months of age. He also has a h/o grade 4 VUR bilaterally and a right sided UPJ obstruction that was corrected by dismembered pyloplasty at 6 weeks. His follow up 1 year renal u/s showed mild persistent hydronephrosis on the side of the repaired UPJ obstruction. Parents are concerned that he has had sleep difficulties since birth requiring an incline for the first 6 months then waking frequently with distressed crying several times per night. Pt reportedly holds himself in an arched position during wake-ups with legs held outstretched and does not like to be picked up, pushing at and striking caregivers if they attempt to console him. He has also been having daily fevers in the 101-102 range for the past 3 months during which he is more fussy and clingy though they happen only in single episode spikes, do not occur at the same time of day everyday, resolve with Tylenol and Motrin and are not associated with any other symptoms. He has had multiple negative urine cultures, negative blood cultures drawn during febrile episodes, mildly elevated inflammatory markers - ESR 33, CRP 3.5, negative CXR, negative ANA and normal CBC and differential. He has had allergy skin testing for food and environmental triggers that have been negative. Is there any diagnosis that could encompass the dysphagia, developmental delay, GERD like history without objective findings, sleep disturbance as well as recurrent fevers?
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Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (8 hours later)
Brief Answer: To rule out urinary sepsis Detailed Answer: Hi Welcome to Healthcare-Magic Greetings of the day Dear Mr XXXXXXX Thank you very much for the detailed description. The GERD symptomatology do not go well with the presenting complaints. The cause for recurrent fever could be the following apart from several other causes that needs to be considered 1. Urinary tract infection: The urine cultures could still be negative, as the XXXXXXX hyne's dismembered Pyeloplasty done could be tight and may be causing collection of infected urine above it. The other presentation of long standing urinary sepsis could be developmental delay and failure to thrive. Is the baby gaining weight appropriate for his age? 2. Tuberculosis: Depending on geogrophical location, possibility of this should be considered 3. Immunodeficiency It would be more helpful if you could provide the following additional information 1. Is the baby gaining weight appropriate for his age? 2. Was peripheral smear examination done? 3. When was ultrasound of abdomen last done? 4. Was PPD testing done? 5. Any rash associated with fever? 6. ASLO titer , is it been done? Do get back to me Take Care Best Regards Dr Deepak Kishore MBBS,MS,MCH Consultant Pediatric Surgeon
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3195 Questions

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What Causes Recurrent Fever With History Of GERD?

Brief Answer: To rule out urinary sepsis Detailed Answer: Hi Welcome to Healthcare-Magic Greetings of the day Dear Mr XXXXXXX Thank you very much for the detailed description. The GERD symptomatology do not go well with the presenting complaints. The cause for recurrent fever could be the following apart from several other causes that needs to be considered 1. Urinary tract infection: The urine cultures could still be negative, as the XXXXXXX hyne's dismembered Pyeloplasty done could be tight and may be causing collection of infected urine above it. The other presentation of long standing urinary sepsis could be developmental delay and failure to thrive. Is the baby gaining weight appropriate for his age? 2. Tuberculosis: Depending on geogrophical location, possibility of this should be considered 3. Immunodeficiency It would be more helpful if you could provide the following additional information 1. Is the baby gaining weight appropriate for his age? 2. Was peripheral smear examination done? 3. When was ultrasound of abdomen last done? 4. Was PPD testing done? 5. Any rash associated with fever? 6. ASLO titer , is it been done? Do get back to me Take Care Best Regards Dr Deepak Kishore MBBS,MS,MCH Consultant Pediatric Surgeon