Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is Recurring Fever In An Infant A Cause For Concern?
Question: Recurring fever for more than 3 months-
My daughter who is 2.8 Year old, is getting recurring fever (100-103F) from last 3 months. We are visiting paediatrician and also hospitalized twice for same. All investigation are normal (CBP, CRP, Urine, Blood and urine culture, Immunoglobulin, chest ultra sound and heart echo and X-ray.
Every time her CRP level goes up and with antibiotics (injectable) it come down for few weeks and again recurrence of fever happens.
History- she was born preterm 2 weeks before due date and born with VSD and had VSD surgical repair at 3.5 months and now she is fine with heart (as per recent report).
Hospitalization 1- (March 23rd, 2016)- she had only high grade fever for week and no other symptoms, she was treated with antibiotics and got discharged after 3 days. All investigations were normal.
Hospitalization 2 )April 20, 2016) she has cold and cough followed by breathlessness and admitted for pneumonia and treated with injectable antibiotics for 9 days and oral antibiotics for 6 days after discharged.
Now again she got high fever with no secondary symptoms.
Please guide me if we need to give her antimalarial or do we need to consider her for cancer or any critical illness diagnosis.
My daughter who is 2.8 Year old, is getting recurring fever (100-103F) from last 3 months. We are visiting paediatrician and also hospitalized twice for same. All investigation are normal (CBP, CRP, Urine, Blood and urine culture, Immunoglobulin, chest ultra sound and heart echo and X-ray.
Every time her CRP level goes up and with antibiotics (injectable) it come down for few weeks and again recurrence of fever happens.
History- she was born preterm 2 weeks before due date and born with VSD and had VSD surgical repair at 3.5 months and now she is fine with heart (as per recent report).
Hospitalization 1- (March 23rd, 2016)- she had only high grade fever for week and no other symptoms, she was treated with antibiotics and got discharged after 3 days. All investigations were normal.
Hospitalization 2 )April 20, 2016) she has cold and cough followed by breathlessness and admitted for pneumonia and treated with injectable antibiotics for 9 days and oral antibiotics for 6 days after discharged.
Now again she got high fever with no secondary symptoms.
Please guide me if we need to give her antimalarial or do we need to consider her for cancer or any critical illness diagnosis.
Brief Answer:
Poor immunity
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Health care magic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concern. Incidentally those who have been born preterm often have low immunity and hence may frequently suffer from infections. I do not think it to be anything else like cancer or something else. Presumptive treatment for malaria is meaningless and unnecessary and I would not suggest that.
Give your child colourful fruits and vegetables and that will help in boosting her immunity.
Regards
Poor immunity
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Health care magic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concern. Incidentally those who have been born preterm often have low immunity and hence may frequently suffer from infections. I do not think it to be anything else like cancer or something else. Presumptive treatment for malaria is meaningless and unnecessary and I would not suggest that.
Give your child colourful fruits and vegetables and that will help in boosting her immunity.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for answer,
But her immunity test (Immuniglobuline) test came normal and she doesn't show any other secondary symptoms like- cold and cough (viral fever). Also she was fine last year through and never has so many fever spikes.
When she is off fever with medication she behaves normal and play with no other symptoms.
She is not putting on weight since last year. Please guide me, I am sure this is not something like regualr flu or viral infection.
But her immunity test (Immuniglobuline) test came normal and she doesn't show any other secondary symptoms like- cold and cough (viral fever). Also she was fine last year through and never has so many fever spikes.
When she is off fever with medication she behaves normal and play with no other symptoms.
She is not putting on weight since last year. Please guide me, I am sure this is not something like regualr flu or viral infection.
Brief Answer:
Common infections
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Immunoglobulin levels are not the only indicator of immunity. There are a number of determinants of immunity and thereby health. If the CRP rises, consider it to be due to a bacterial infection, else it is due to a virus. In any case it is something as common as flu.
Regards
Common infections
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Immunoglobulin levels are not the only indicator of immunity. There are a number of determinants of immunity and thereby health. If the CRP rises, consider it to be due to a bacterial infection, else it is due to a virus. In any case it is something as common as flu.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks Doctor,
We will give crocine or Meftal P as appropriate. Assuming fever without symptoms is viral and will settle after few days.
Last question before I close-
Will to much of antipyretic and antibiotics harmful to body? as she is been give lot of it under doctor supervision.
And can cancer or any critical illness would have been diagnosed by now (with all test I have specified) CBP, CRP, culture and other.
Let me know if we need to ask any other test or question to our regular pediatrics, Please help me i am really worried for her.
Thanks
We will give crocine or Meftal P as appropriate. Assuming fever without symptoms is viral and will settle after few days.
Last question before I close-
Will to much of antipyretic and antibiotics harmful to body? as she is been give lot of it under doctor supervision.
And can cancer or any critical illness would have been diagnosed by now (with all test I have specified) CBP, CRP, culture and other.
Let me know if we need to ask any other test or question to our regular pediatrics, Please help me i am really worried for her.
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Paracetamol is very safe.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back again.
Crocin (paracetamol) is a very safe medicine and you need not worry about that. Meftal P (mefenamic acid) is more effective than paracetamol but has the demerit of causing gastric irritation. Antibiotics are ineffective in viral infection but in case of bacterial infections where CRP is raised, antibiotics have to be given. The ones that are usually given are safe and you need not worry.
I would not link cancer to the mentioned problems. Had it been cancer or someother similar critical disease, it should already have been detected.
I do not see the specific requirement of any tests as of now.
Regards
Paracetamol is very safe.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back again.
Crocin (paracetamol) is a very safe medicine and you need not worry about that. Meftal P (mefenamic acid) is more effective than paracetamol but has the demerit of causing gastric irritation. Antibiotics are ineffective in viral infection but in case of bacterial infections where CRP is raised, antibiotics have to be given. The ones that are usually given are safe and you need not worry.
I would not link cancer to the mentioned problems. Had it been cancer or someother similar critical disease, it should already have been detected.
I do not see the specific requirement of any tests as of now.
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
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
