3 y/o fever over 102 & droopy eye lids Pediatrician seems unconcerned.

[Cindy__0]

  I posted earlier this week about recurrent fever. Now my daughter has drooping eyelids.  She slept nearly 12 hours clear through the night, but woke up today and looks like she is falling asleep all day.  Her fever has been persistent, was gone yesterday and back now today up to 102.3.  Called the doc and she makes me feel as if I am overreacting.  Do fevers last this long.  Medication bottles for children post warnings about fevers lasting more than a few days.  Am I overreacting???
Dear Cindy :
recurrent fevers are not uncommon in children. Every season is characterized by a variety of infectious agents . Each fever should be associated with other symptoms , as an example , common colds causing fevers would involve a runny nose , maybe a mild dry or congested cough . Other fevers maybe accompanied by loose stools ( as in the case of gastroenteritis-inflamation in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract due to an infection or a variety of other causes)and these are two of a very long list of causes of fever.
What would be concerning is that she's had these fevers now for a long time , they recur and no obvious focus of infection or inflammation has been found. I would try and get in to see her doctor, that will give you a chance to get a good physical exam and an opportunity to discuss your concerns in more detail . Physicians usually base their diagnosis on the combination of taking a good history , a good physical examination aided by simple investigations if necessary.
I am not sure how far you've investigated these fevers before but a physical examination would be a decent start.I will list the commonest causes of fevers in children .
Common colds ,ear infections, tonsilitis/ pharyngitis ,gastroenteritis,viral infections with/without rashes ,urinary tract infections ,sinusitis,bronchitis ,bronchiolitis, pneumonia , skin....
Of the more serious ones : bacteremia ( bacteria in the blood), meningitis,joint or bone infections ....
Non infectious causes are also numerous , some of which are: drug/medication fevers, allergic reactions ,Thyroid disease ,inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis , malignancies. These are quite uncommon , are associated with a more chronic ( prolonged) course in most cases and have a combination of characteristic signs and symptoms that will make your physician consider them.
I cannot explain the reason why your daughter's eyelids are drooping . Wanting to close her eyes may just be a sign that she feels tired as an effect of the fever, on the other hand , if she has trouble keeping her eyelids open even when she's trying , that maybe a sign of eyelid muscle weakness. Again I urge you to discuss it with her physician during the examination and these are some of the questions her physician may ask you to help in the differentiation :Are they drooping only during fever , does she wake up with drooping eyes or do they gradually get weaker throughout the day, are both upper and lower eyelids involved .Is your daughter inactive and lethargic even when she has no fever .The change in the color of conjunctivae( i.e the white of the eye )is usually a non specific finding and maybe seen in any illness .
Please keep in touch on the results of your visit or if any new symptoms develop.
Thank you
L.M.
Disclaimer: this information is for academic purposes only. Your physician is ultimately responsible for the management of the illness.
Keywords:Recurrent fevers*