Monthly high temperatures/fever

[djayz]

We have a young boy going on 3 and he's as strong as an ox and is generally fit and healthy. However, since the beginning of this year, we have had to take him to the hospital every single month with high temperature and fever-like conditions, with temperatures ranging anywhere from high 37 to mid 39 C. 

The standard explanation from the doctor is that this is due to "seasonal change", which I don't understand or accept any more as neither the seasons nor the weather changes monthly. 

The only other symptom he has had in April and May is stomachache. Otherwise, no other problems.

I've searched the internet but haven't found any health issues where he is showing more than the 2 previously mentioned symptoms. Does anybody have any ideas what the problem could be? The doctors just keep on prescribing him medicine every time he's in and I'm getting a bit worried about such a young child taking so much medicine.  

There's no pattern in the timing of problem. 

[garygooner]

Surely a qualified doctor's advice is better than TV. Try a different hospital to get to the bottom of it if you're not satisfied. 

[northsouthdevide]

I have a 7 year old that burns up sometimes. 

After visiting the docs on numerous occasions, and being prescribed calpol like treatments, I now just have a bottle on hand, and stopped taking him. 

Other than him running a high temp, he's fit and active. 

I blame his mum for having him sleep in almost sub zero temps when he was younger, so without air con, he burns up. 

Also, I have to keep reminding him to drink fluids, otherwise they would sit in a glass in front of him all day. 

[Ventenio]

i wouldn't waste time on TV and go to another doctor for a second opinion.  This is your kid's health, I wouldn't put my kid's health in the hands of someone on the internet.

 

maybe it was the pollution, allergies, mold, chemicals, covid, bacterial infection, bug bite, or 1 zillion other things.  i would go see someone tomorrow.

 

"oh, your son is very sick.  did you go to a doctor?"

"well, I took the advice of people on TV and my son didn't get better."

"oh"

"yea, i figured TV was full of doctors, so good way to save money."

"oh"

[drbeach]

Your problem is trusting doctors too much. That's what they do - prescribe medicine. Most fever is healthy, as long as it doesn't go too high, remain too long or spike quickly. Stay home and make your child as comfortable as possible, without using dangerous drugs like Tylenol that deplete glutathione (the body's natural detox agent). Now is the last time to be going to hospital with all the covid hysteria. Unless accompanied by other worrying symptoms, generally nothing to worry about.

 

By all means, keep monitoring and change hospitals if you feel the need. It's your child, but from the tone of your post, you sound like a worrier, perhaps a hypochondriac. I can sympathize...I'm a father too, but still, the stress of worrying won't make things better.

Edited May 17, 2020 by drbeach

[scubascuba3]

What medication was he given? 

[Sheryl]

You need to take him to a good pediatrician for diagnosis of the underlying cause. Where do you live?

 

Are these fevers accompanied by any other symptoms that you know of?

[djayz]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

You need to take him to a good pediatrician for diagnosis of the underlying cause. Where do you live?

 

Are these fevers accompanied by any other symptoms that you know of?

We live in Nakhon Ratchisma and we've taken him to St. Mary's, which is considered a good hospital here.

Anybody know of a good pediatrician here, or in Bangkok? 

 

The only other symptom was stomachache in April and again in early May. Otherwise, no noticeable symptoms. 

 

This is my first child, so I have absolutely no reference or idea if this is normal for (some) kids or normal in this part of the world. 

 

I simply can't figure out what is causing this and I don't belive prescrbing him medicine every month is good in the long term. I suppose I'm also a little frustrated that the doctors can't explain it to me in English and I can't understand them in Thai. It's the not knowing part that's getting yo me the most. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by djayz

[djayz]

5 hours ago, northsouthdevide said:

I have a 7 year old that burns up sometimes. 

After visiting the docs on numerous occasions, and being prescribed calpol like treatments, I now just have a bottle on hand, and stopped taking him. 

Other than him running a high temp, he's fit and active. 

I blame his mum for having him sleep in almost sub zero temps when he was younger, so without air con, he burns up. 

Also, I have to keep reminding him to drink fluids, otherwise they would sit in a glass in front of him all day. 

Our boy is seldom in air conditioned rooms for extended periods of time and he's definitely getting plenty of water, so I can rule that out. 

 

Thanks. 

[BritManToo]

6 hours ago, djayz said:

we have had to take him to the hospital every single month with high temperature and fever-like conditions, with temperatures ranging anywhere from high 37 to mid 39 C. 

MIne had that too, off and on for around two years, Nakorn Ping hospital would keep him in for a night or two on intravenous saline. Sometimes the attacks weren't so bad and he could recover without the hospital.

Was eventually referred to Suan Dok hospital and diagnosed with acute bacterial infection of the lymph glands.

About a week in Suan Dok hospital on intravenous antibiotics and the symptoms went away, never to return.

 

Not saying that's whats happening with your kid but there's some odd diseases in the tropics.

I'd not seen anything like it before, and I've previously had four kids in the UK.

Edited May 17, 2020 by BritManToo

[ThailandRyan]

The question is, is he teething, are his 2 year molars in yet, and if not is he having pains and headaches as well.  Just some food for thought could also be those molars that are causing the issues...

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, djayz said:

I'm also a little frustrated that the doctors can't explain it to me in English and I can't understand them in Thai.

Get them to write it down in Thai (or type it on your phone) and use Google Translate.

It works pretty well for medical terms.

[djayz]

3 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

The question is, is he teething, are his 2 year molars in yet, and if not is he having pains and headaches as well.  Just some food for thought could also be those molars that are causing the issues...

Ryan, that's just reminded me that he has been pointing to his mouth from time to time recently but hasn't complained of headaches or "ouch" in his mouth. 

I'll check tomorrow when he's awake. 

You might be on to something, but would it take 5 months for those to come up I wonder? 

[Sheryl]

The best medical care to be had in Issan is at Khon Kaen Universty Hospital (Srinagarind). Use thier after hoyurs clinic and ask for an acharn io Pediatrocs who speaks English well. Get all rmedical records first and bring with you.

 

It is common for children that age to get  fevers from time to time, say several times a year,  but not every single month.

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, djayz said:

Ryan, that's just reminded me that he has been pointing to his mouth from time to time recently but hasn't complained of headaches or "ouch" in his mouth. 

I'll check tomorrow when he's awake. 

You might be on to something, but would it take 5 months for those to come up I wonder? 

My step daughter's molars took almost two months to come in. And her two top and bottom front teeth were impacted. Caused fevers and congestion. Thought she always had a cold and was playing with her ears as well. Went to the dentist and after x-rays he did some small procedures which assisted in the teeth coming in on there own and never had a problem after....good luck.

[djayz]

12 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

My step daughter's molars took almost two months to come in. And her two top and bottom front teeth were impacted. Caused fevers and congestion. Thought she always had a cold and was playing with her ears as well. Went to the dentist and after x-rays he did some small procedures which assisted in the teeth coming in on there own and never had a problem after....good luck.

My boy has been playing with his ears as well!!! And now simply will not let me wash them! I sincerely hope this is it.

[ezzra]

Hi core temperature can only means one thing and that is the body is fighting an infection and it could be from the manageable sorts of infection all the way up to the dreaded cancer tumors...

[stouricks]

20 hours ago, drbeach said:

Your problem is trusting doctors too much. That's what they do - prescribe medicine. Most fever is healthy, as long as it doesn't go too high, remain too long or spike quickly. Stay home and make your child as comfortable as possible, without using dangerous drugs like Tylenol that deplete glutathione (the body's natural detox agent). Now is the last time to be going to hospital with all the covid hysteria. Unless accompanied by other worrying symptoms, generally nothing to worry about.

 

By all means, keep monitoring and change hospitals if you feel the need. It's your child, but from the tone of your post, you sound like a worrier, perhaps a hypochondriac. I can sympathize...I'm a father too, but still, the stress of worrying won't make things better.

Quoting your first sentence, and seeing your name seem to contradict each other. Tylenol is NOT dangerous in the recommended dose, it is the same as paracetomol, Calpol etc.

How would changing hospitals help....you might go to a worse one!

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, djayz said:

My boy has been playing with his ears as well!!! And now simply will not let me wash them! I sincerely hope this is it.

 

Ear infections are a common source of fever in young children. And can be recurrent. Be sure to mention to the docs that he does nto let you touch his ears.