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Can Separation Anxiety Cause Fever In A Child?

Posted on Mon, 13 Feb 2017

Question: Hello,

I have a son of 3.5 years old. He looks to get persistent fever of 5-7 days whenever he feels the absence of someone he loves. For example the first time my mother, who actually looks after him as I am a working female, traveled away from him for few days (he was 1 yr old then), and recently my husband traveled to US, etc. This has happened ~ 5-6 times so far. What I want to understand is will mental health cause fever? Is this common? If yes, is the treatment different?
Once few months ago (one day after my husband traveled to US) got high grade fever which could not be cured for more than 6 days. Finally he got admitted for 5 days with IV-antibiotics to cure. Based on te test reports doctor mentioned that there is no trace for any bacteria/virus. Guess was bacterial infection. Finally he mentioned its fever with no focus. Even right now he has persistent fever lasting for more than 5 days, under anti bodies, yet to do blood test. Doctor thinks it is fever with no focus as he can not find any sources in clinical investigation. I am really scared of this kind of fever.

Please share your inputs. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Pathophysiology explained.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concern. Most often children get such symptoms due to viral infections. These viruses are all around and we get the infections whenever our immunity drops. It is possible whenever the child's mother or father has been away, the internal balance has been disrupted due to the mind-body interactions as well as the change in the external and thereby the internal environment. The sense of vulnerability has also reflected internally thus depressing his immunity, at least transiently and he has caught a cold. Such viral infections do not cause any change in blood reports and the lack of any findings in the reports concretely points to the viral cause. It is not a cause for concern. Treatment with antibiotics is meaningless.

However, you need not panic. Just reassure the child and things would be fine again.

Feel free to write back in case of further queries.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (26 hours later)

Thank you doctor!!

I understand your answer that it may be due to viral infection and the kid might be less immune in case of emotional issues.

Thanks for the details..

XXXX

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Glad to help

Detailed Answer:
Feel free to write back in case of further queries.

Regards

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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar