My son has been getting a fever of 103 every 10 days. It lasts for 4-5 days. Any ideas?

Question

The doctors say it is just a virus...we think it is something more serious.

Answer 1

Fever in Children - A Blessing in Disguise by Dr. Mercola
Fever is not a disease but rather a symptom of an illness.


Childhood fevers frighten grownups.
Fever is maligned and misunderstood.
Controversy surrounding the management of fever causes anxiety for parents, because they are not completely sure what to do when their child has one.
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It may help parents to remember that fever is only one part of the picture of an illness. In fact, for children under eight years of age, and especially for infants, the severity of a fever is an unreliable indicator of the severity of the child's illness. For example, infants and toddlers can be very sick with a low or even subnormal temperature. Conversely, children three to eight years old can be running about quite cheerfully with a fairly impressive fever.
Fever increases the amount of interferon (a natural antiviral and anticancer substance) in the blood. A mild fever also increases the white blood cells that kill cells infected with viruses, fungi, and cancer, and improves the ability of certain white blood cells to destroy bacteria and infected cells. Fever also impairs the replication of many bacteria and viruses.

Bottom line: A moderate fever is a friend, but not one you want to spend a lot of time with. So it makes sense to avoid suppressing moderate fevers with drugs, while continuing to monitor your child for dramatic increases in temperature and worsening of any other of his symptoms. more

Fever
Conventional doctors have been taught to treat every symptom that comes to their attention. For instance, medication is often prescribed to reduce childhood fever. Yet fever is the body's mechanism for destroying viruses and bacteria. "If we do no more than take the edge off the fever to make the child comfortable," says Dr. Smith, "we may be prolonging the illness."

According to Dr. Moskowitz, producing a fever is one of the signs of a healthy child. The remedies Dr.Moskowitz recommends do not take away fever, but rather help the immnue system to finish it's job of healing. These remedies may include Aconite, Belladonna, Ferrum Phosphate, Gelsemium, Pulsatilla and Bryonia.

Dr. Sodhi also considers a fever below 102 F to be beneficial in a child, and he does not like to give children medication such as aspirin or tylenol for it. He does recommend a light, nutritious diet, and cold sponging or homeopathic remedies such as Belladona, Aconite and Sulfur.

According to Dr. Ni, traditional Chinese medicine treats a fever by inducing sweating and treating the accompanying infection. A hot bath can be used to induce a fever.

David Hoffman believes that a fever may be beneficial in a young child, and that a low-grade fever does not need to be reduced. The child should be given a lot of support and comfort along with plenty of fluids. Herbal teas such as peppermint, elder flower and even yarrow will help the body cope with the fever, but will not surpress it the way aspirin does.

Answer 2

My son had chronic ear infections as an infant and small child and had the same thing. Thus at first they "blamed" the fevers on ear infections. Finally, at 11 months old he started having seizures and then they said they were febrile. (He went straight from normal body temp immediately to 106 and convulsions. I knew he was not ill before the seizures, nor feverish. Finally after about 6 grand mal seizures I went to a neurologist. That Doc said that his neurological episodes was possibly what was causing his unregulated body temperatures. (He would also have episodes, very fast and briefly, in which his lips turned purplish and hands and feet. It would be so fast that by the time I told someone "Hey! Look at his lips/feet/hands"....they would be back to normal colors. In researching, back then....I found out that was sort of a precurser to his instant temperature rise and then a fever. Finally he was put on the correct seizure medication and his episodes of fevers quit and seizures were pretty well controlled. (He is 16 years old now and still on seizure meds; also has aspergers syndrome, ocd, and hypothyroidism.)

Hope you're able to find your son's causes and I suggest switching doctors for another opinion if you just don't feel comfortable with his/her analogy. Also....NEVER argue with the feelings of "mom". A mom always knows instinctively if something is not right. Take care and will pray for you all.

Answer 3

if you have taken the child to a Dr and they say its a virus, then there is no meds that can take care of it and the virus will have to take its course. All you can do is to make sure you keep the child hydrated with plenty of fluids and keep an eye on them.

Now, if this viral infection does not go away, I would demand to see another doctor to make sure get another opinion. Have they taken blood samples? I would rather be safe than sorry. Have a second or 3rd opinion. The age of the child can also play a factor. Do not take risks with the health of your child.

Answer 4

How old is your son??? A temperature like that needs to be treated in the ER right away!!! He may have a virus but if he continues on with such a high temp he may develop other symptoms like seizures. Check this site out AFTER taking your son to the ER http://home.coqui.net/myrna/febsrz.htm

Answer 5

I don't know how old your son is - Think you should get a second opinion. Sounds like - it's something else than a virus. Have them do a blood test to see how his white blood counts are. I would consider going to a Pediatrician. Keep insisting they do more test if that test comes back normal....there is something causing this.

Answer 6

i have a 5 month old premature baby bot and today will be our 4th day going to the er because of fever. they did urine and blood samples and his urine was fine, but his wbc's we high indicating an infection so today is our last time going to get an antibiotic shot(rocephin) it a cephalosporin that kills bacteria infection in the body.they could have given it to him by prescription, but it works better if they get via i.v. or by shot. he didn't have a fever last night and he seems to be back to normal. give tylenol or motrin, but take him back to the doctor because you don't want his temp to get to high and he have a seizure.

Answer 7

I would DEFINITELY get a second opinion. Go to the ER if necessary, a fever should NOT last that long.

Answer 8

It sounds to me like you need a second opinion. Recurring fevers lasting that long are not normal.

Good luck!

Answer 9

yes it dose sound like it could be more how long has this been going on . You should really get a second opion and a third if necessary . Try to go to highly recommend pediatrician.

Answer 10

have you heard of a hospital?