Two Year Old Runs High Fevers Every Three to Four Weeks

Sounds very strange! My daughter had something similar going on, she ended up being allergic to her formula, she was allergic to milk and soy proteins and had to be put on enfamil nutramigen formula.

Hope this helps!!
Good luck!

Sorry, I think I would get a second opinion from a different doctor's group. Probably not what you want to hear, but that is not normal for child's health.
Perhaps asking to see an Infectious Disease Physician who specializes in treating reoccuring fevers, experts in reading blood values.
My Mom meter is going off that sounds to me as if someone is trying to "sweep things under the rug." Not helpful for your child or you. If they think it is reoccuring ear infections why don't they send your child to see an Ears,Nose, and Throat Physician for tubes??

I would find a holistic doctor. They are very good at finding the cause of the symptom not just treating a symptom. R.

Hi K.,

I agree with the other moms. If you're not comfortable or doubting your son's diagnosis, seek another opinion. I would change doctors and request that your son see a specialist. You can also ask other moms that you know who their child's pediatrician is. You are your son's best advocate. If for any reason, you are not assured by his diagnosis, don't hesitate to request for further evaluation. You are the one who is caring for you son throughout the day and knows best what he is experiencing.

How did they find an ulcer on his esophagus?(may be long but please read this may help) I was having really bad chest pains to the point I felt like I was having a heartattack after the birth of my daughter,I went to see my dr after several er visit's and seeing my Ob I was being treated for Gastric Reflux and a sore that that wouldn't go away for over 2 months and also for possible muscle strain in my chest during delivery had xray a ct scan you name it to see if there was a blood clot.I was finally diagnosed after seeing a specialist a Gastrologist had done an EGD the one that goes down your throat to see the upper part of stomach I have gastritius and a hital hernia,I ask how he was daignosed because you can't tell what is going on down there past your tonsils in a drs visit,if he hasn't had this done then I would they may need to take a biopsy like I had to becasue they seen something red but it was a flare up from the gases created in my stomach,and for the passing of stools is he usually constipated and have to push really hard to get them out he may have develped inner hemmoriods and this the dr will need to use a small scope in the office they will insert something like a papsmear device to open up the anus to look inside.Have you kept a jouranl of these episodes and what he ate any medication is he in the care of others?You may need to investigate a bit more at home this isn't somehthing that will just go away it can be a simple fix or something more.If your Dr doesn't give you what you want to hear thwn leave and find another or book to see one in the same office for a second opinion.If your husband agrees to see a specialist I would go and see a Gastrologist unsure if it is spelled correctly but they are the ones who do the Colorectal and EGD testing it is minor surgery and thye do it with anatesia but I would find that very beneficial since he has passing of blood in stool's and coughing it up.They may refer you to see an allergy dr as well either path you choose I hope you find a proper diagnoses for your lil guy I have 2 kids myself and worry everyday about their well being.Have they ordered blood work for him?

My daughter, who is now six, ran high fevers (104) for 24-48 hours every six-eight weeks for about two years when she was around two. I did everything I could think of and eventually quit going to the doctor. The first couple of times we went to the ER, then it resorted to doc appts and then I quit going b/c it was always the same thing: check her ears, check her urine, they even did venous blood work (took three of us to hold her!) when she was three to see if she had an infection in her blood. Everything they did came back negative. Eventually it ran it's course. MY daughter never had any of the other symptoms, however...
As far as the ear infections, I personally think they over diagnose ear infections. I think everything is so close in that area that if they are teething or start crying, it can irritate that area and be mistaken for a mild infection.
Good luck with your baby :)

I sweetie I'm sorry that you going through such a bad time with your ittle one. I've never had to deal with anything like this but I have a cousin who was having some problems with her daughter and the doctors kept saying it was this and that. The only reason she has the truth to what is really wrong is that she finally got upset and took her daughter to a childrens hospital. Not sure where you are in the world but if there is a children's hospital anywhere close enough for you travel to I would sugest doing it as soon as possible. they usually won't just settle for not having something answered when it comes to children.

My daughter also ran high fevers we were constantly seeing other doctors, and they would blame it on a virus because her ears would be fine, 4:30 one morning I had had enough, I took her to the emergency room and I told them that her urine smells like she is dirty. They tested her and sure enough she had a UTI, urinary tract infection. We were sent to the Childrens Hospital in Salt Lake, and they determined she had Vesicoureteral Reflux, the tube between her bladder and her kydneys was not developed and her urine was backing up into her kydneys. On a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the worse, her left side was a 2 and her right a 5. She had 20% kydney damage on her left and her right kydney is half the size it should be. They called it a birth defect. She was only 10 months old. They put her on antibiotics for 6 months to clear it up and hopefully the tube would develope on it's own. It didn't. We had wonderful surgeon at the Kansas Childrens Hospital who reassured me that after the surgery she would never have a problem again. But I still worry every time she runs a fever, and every time her docter knows to do a urine test. Since my daughter surgery and complete recovery I have heard some real horror stories about this problem so please have your son tested.

Hi K., Your issue with your son sounded so similar to what a friend of mine went through with hers that I asked her for information for you. Here's what she had to say:

There are a few things that can cause cyclical fevers. My son's diagnosis is PFAPA, and it's hallmark is periodic HIGH fevers, every 2-4 weeks or so in a predictable pattern, with good health and normal growth in between. PFAPA kids also sometimes have throat ulcers, enlarged lymph nodes, and stomach upset, although not always.

One thing to rule out with recurring fevers is CYCLIC
NEUTROPENIA. This disorder can be pretty easily diagnosed with serial CBC's, that is, blood counts, while the child is fevering, right afterwards, and when there has been no fever for a while. These kids have a cyclical drop in their neutrophils, which sets them up for infection on average every 21 days.

There are other, more rare, fever disorders that are genetic, and if the pediatrician takes a good family history, may be worth exploring. They can most often be found by genetic testing, through blood tests. This includes FMF and HIDS, among others.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can start out as recurring fevers, as well as Crohn's disease. These will evolve into other symptoms, however, including joint pain and diarrhea.

If your child is having recurrent fevers, keep a fever calendar. Document when it comes on, how high it gets, and what you did to lower it (Tylenol, Ibuprofen), and did it work.

MOST recurrent fever syndromes are not life threatening. That is the good news! There are specialists out there who deal with these syndromes that help with a diagnosis and offer treatment.

Our son Eli started fevering at 1 1/2 years, ran typically a fever of 103-104 for 3 days, repeating every 21 days. I did so much research on my own, and saw a couple of specialists before one agreed it was PFAPA. We treated with prednisone most episodes, which completely took the fever away within 2 hrs, but brought episodes closer together. We then started a
daily dose of Singulair, which took about 4 months to help, and now we have been fever free for 4 wonderful months.

There are many on-line information groups for cyclical fevers. I live in Arizona but if you would like to contact me let A. know and she'll give you my contact info. ~Jen

If I were you I would contact a gastroenterologist (sp?). They specialize in the digestive system. You may even want to contact someone at Children's Mercy hospital to see if you can find some help there. My prayers are with you. Good Luck!

If it were me I'd find another Doctor. There is nothing wrong with getting a second, third, fourth, or even fifth opinion. If you're unhappy with his care or diagnosis then keep pushing. Don't give up. You're the only one who will fight for him so keep doing so. You're his mother, you know when something is wrong. So listen to your intuition and don't let any one tell you he's fine if you know he's not.

When my son was 2 he started running high fevers also. I was so sacared. When the fever would come his head would swell right in the temple area he looked like he had a football head. The doctor I took him to said he had never seen anything like it. I had him in the doctors office 11am we came back to dr at 12:00. Because of his head swelling this was the first time this happened. anyway dr said he had never seen anyones head swell that big that fast. and never on both sides. So for the next year every 3 wks he would run 105+ (temp) for about 3-5 days. Dr. had taken blood every time. We had seen 10 different kids of doctors. Finally infectious Diease doc. Said he knows what it is but we would have to take blood every 3 days for 6 wks to conferm it. I said know because at this point he had, had his blood drawn a million times and I was tired of docs using him as a experment. He told me that he was sure that it was called (can't rememeber name)and that my son would out grow it. Glad to say he did! This can be a very long road. Hang in there. We have not had a fever in over a year. Good luck!

Hi K.,
OMG! First congrats on surviving two little boys and working full-time. You are my hero!!! Ha(my daughter is 17 mos and I am desperately trying to go back to work and can't decide FT or PT but it will work out, no family for bbsit)
Anyway, I didn't read to far so this may have been suggested, but have you thought about seeing a pediatric immunologist? Sounds like an autoimmune condition, which may or may not need treatment. A fever is actually a good thing if not too high or uncomfortable as the body is using it's natural defenses. Just a thought as I used to work in the field, because it is cyclical and you have had all of the standard labs, and also the esophageal ulcer.....I just wonder if it could be an intolerance or immune response to something such as gluten(a by-product of wheat, barley, rye) or something else and is body is producing a fever when levels get too high as he builds more antibodies, something to check if you feel it helps.
Hang in there!

K.,
I had the same fever problem with my son when he was little. The dr. just kept saying that we all come in contact with viruses constantly.....blah, blah, blah! I eventually had him do blood work to check his immune system, and everything was ok. One thing we learned after years of this, was to let the fever run it's course, instead of treating it with pain relievers constantly. When we just let it run, his body seemed to heal faster, and he would be sick for maybe 3 days instead of 5. As he got older, his fevers seemed to coincide with enlarged lymph glands and or tonsilitis. Getting his tonsils out at age 7 was what finally stopped the fevers. Besides that, I will never know what made him so sick for so long. Keep trying to find answers, that's the best you can do. Be his advocate, and push for tests or solutions. I wish you luck. I know how miserable it is to be that mom, and to deal with a sick baby over and over. Sadly, just before we got his tonsils removed, he got really, really sick, and it compromised his immune system enough to trigger his type 1 diabetes. Now I wish I had pushed harder and sooner to get those tonsils out, and maybe he wouldn't have gotten diabetes. Do everything you can, that's just what a good mommy does!
PS. - My son loved having those Be Cool strips on his forehead when he had a fever; very cooling. Also, they make acetaminofen suppositories if he can't keep the meds down (Fever All)

That is very bizzare...I would find another doctor. This sounds like a 'Mystery Diagnosis' episode to me! Have you been able to find anything on the internet?

I could not even imagine what you are going through, but If that was me I would turn to the internet. If I was unhappy woth a half diagnosis I usually take my kids to another until I felt comfortable. The best place to go is childrens mercey. Heartland Hospital is the worst hopsital that i have been to and hope I never have to go back. 1 Year ago my daughter had the tips of her finger ripped off by the bathroom door, and Heartland hospital in my opinion sucked. Please find a spoecialist to take your child to. Like al of the other mothers never give up keep fighting for your son. Anytime I hear of something new with a niece or nephew of my or even my own children I turn to the interent to see what I can find out. There are some many resources out there and eventually with your on research you can assist the Dr's in finding out what is going on with your son. I hope you find something out soon. I will keep you in my prayers. :)