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What Causes Recurring Fever In A Child?
Question: Hi ,
My 3 years old son has got severe[104] fever 2 months back and was cured with antibiotics and paracetmol. But the fever reoccured every 2 weeks and was getting cured with antibiotics. 15 days back he again got fever and he was diagnised with typhoid. Doctor gave him ceftriaxone and oflox for 5 days through IV and followed with 7 days cefixime.
He looked completely cured. But now again after 5 days from stopping medicine he again got the fever [101 to 102]. Please suggest should we use the antibiotic for more perriod? or how should we go
My 3 years old son has got severe[104] fever 2 months back and was cured with antibiotics and paracetmol. But the fever reoccured every 2 weeks and was getting cured with antibiotics. 15 days back he again got fever and he was diagnised with typhoid. Doctor gave him ceftriaxone and oflox for 5 days through IV and followed with 7 days cefixime.
He looked completely cured. But now again after 5 days from stopping medicine he again got the fever [101 to 102]. Please suggest should we use the antibiotic for more perriod? or how should we go
Brief Answer:
Could be recurrent viral illness
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic. By what you quote I think it might just be a recurrent viral illness. I suggest you get back to me with the answers to the following questions -
1. Every time fever comes, how is his activity when fever touches baseline after medicine.?
2. How long does each episode of illness stay with him?
3. What are the other he has got apart form fever - like cough/ cold/ frequency of urination/ pain during urination/ breathing difficulty/ fast breathing/ fits or seizures/ vomiting/ diarrhoea etc.
4. Every time when he gets fever do you record his temperature before giving fever medicine or not and if so, do you maintain a fever chart.
5. Do you have any investigation reports of so many doctor visits and prescriptions, and if possible can you upload them in this website.
6. You told he was diagnosed with Typhoid fever, was it after blood culture or clinical diagnosis or based on any blood tests.
7. You have already used multiple antibiotics.
I request you to get back to me with answers to above questions as soon as possible.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Could be recurrent viral illness
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic. By what you quote I think it might just be a recurrent viral illness. I suggest you get back to me with the answers to the following questions -
1. Every time fever comes, how is his activity when fever touches baseline after medicine.?
2. How long does each episode of illness stay with him?
3. What are the other he has got apart form fever - like cough/ cold/ frequency of urination/ pain during urination/ breathing difficulty/ fast breathing/ fits or seizures/ vomiting/ diarrhoea etc.
4. Every time when he gets fever do you record his temperature before giving fever medicine or not and if so, do you maintain a fever chart.
5. Do you have any investigation reports of so many doctor visits and prescriptions, and if possible can you upload them in this website.
6. You told he was diagnosed with Typhoid fever, was it after blood culture or clinical diagnosis or based on any blood tests.
7. You have already used multiple antibiotics.
I request you to get back to me with answers to above questions as soon as possible.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
He is very active even with fever.after paracetmol fever is getting to normal in 1 hour
fever is coming thrice a day
no other illness
typhoid is diagnosed with blood test. To 1:160 th 1:80
fever is coming thrice a day
no other illness
typhoid is diagnosed with blood test. To 1:160 th 1:80
Brief Answer:
Recurrent viral infection
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your trust in me.
I very much feel that what your kid is having is only recurrent viral infection. I would like to elaborate you about what is a viral illness, so that you will be confident next time.
If your kid is normal in between fever episodes in a single day...I don't think you should worry. Danger signs include breathlessness/ rash/ low urine output/ seizures/ unconsciousness/ blood in motion. Don't worry if these are not there & the kid is active. 95% of childhood fevers are viral & they do not warrant antibiotics at all. Moreover in this era of increasing antibiotic resistance, indiscriminate use is antibiotics should be avoided. One more thing with viral infection is that initial 48 hours fever will be very high & may not touch base line. Gradually it will start spacing out & ultimately kid will be completely well by 6-7th day.
Moreover whatever test you mentioned for typhoid is relevant only if done by a tube method & not a slide method. You can easily find this out. If results are available immediately... it's slide method... Its not reliable. If its available after 24 hours... Its tube method & reliable that only when done on or after 7th day of fever. Kindly note this point.
Next time I suggest you give only paracetamol in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose if temperature is more than 100F & give him plenty of water. You can wait till 7 days if no other above mentioned danger signs evolve. Avoid paracetamol combinations especially Meftal-P.
Happy to help anytime. Please get back if any doubt's.
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani
Recurrent viral infection
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your trust in me.
I very much feel that what your kid is having is only recurrent viral infection. I would like to elaborate you about what is a viral illness, so that you will be confident next time.
If your kid is normal in between fever episodes in a single day...I don't think you should worry. Danger signs include breathlessness/ rash/ low urine output/ seizures/ unconsciousness/ blood in motion. Don't worry if these are not there & the kid is active. 95% of childhood fevers are viral & they do not warrant antibiotics at all. Moreover in this era of increasing antibiotic resistance, indiscriminate use is antibiotics should be avoided. One more thing with viral infection is that initial 48 hours fever will be very high & may not touch base line. Gradually it will start spacing out & ultimately kid will be completely well by 6-7th day.
Moreover whatever test you mentioned for typhoid is relevant only if done by a tube method & not a slide method. You can easily find this out. If results are available immediately... it's slide method... Its not reliable. If its available after 24 hours... Its tube method & reliable that only when done on or after 7th day of fever. Kindly note this point.
Next time I suggest you give only paracetamol in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose if temperature is more than 100F & give him plenty of water. You can wait till 7 days if no other above mentioned danger signs evolve. Avoid paracetamol combinations especially Meftal-P.
Happy to help anytime. Please get back if any doubt's.
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thanks for the details. But I have below concerns.
Typhoid test method is tube. And fever is getting controlled only when we use anti biotic.
main issue is fever is re occurring since two months. Si much worried for using paracetmol that many times.
When ever we use antibiotics then fever is going of. After4 to 5 days from stopping antibiotics again fever is
coming.
If it is viral, fever would not go off with antibiotics right? ?
That is main concern
Typhoid test method is tube. And fever is getting controlled only when we use anti biotic.
main issue is fever is re occurring since two months. Si much worried for using paracetmol that many times.
When ever we use antibiotics then fever is going of. After4 to 5 days from stopping antibiotics again fever is
coming.
If it is viral, fever would not go off with antibiotics right? ?
That is main concern
Brief Answer:
Antibiotic response of fever is not a proof
Detailed Answer:
Hi...nothing like that. Once fever is settling we never know if it is because of antibiotics or settling on its own. That is what I suggested to wait next time till 7 days. If you don't use antibiotics and still fever settles then you will feel more confident. But I suggest you wait under medical supervision explaining your pediatrician all the facts I put forth. Happy to help. Further clarifications are welcome.
Antibiotic response of fever is not a proof
Detailed Answer:
Hi...nothing like that. Once fever is settling we never know if it is because of antibiotics or settling on its own. That is what I suggested to wait next time till 7 days. If you don't use antibiotics and still fever settles then you will feel more confident. But I suggest you wait under medical supervision explaining your pediatrician all the facts I put forth. Happy to help. Further clarifications are welcome.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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