Cyclic fever

[EABenardini]

Hello, my son has recurrent fevers for approximately 6 months now.  The fevers recur every 2-3 weeks and last from 6 to 11 days total each cycle.  The range of temperature is 101 F - 105 F.  The highest recorded temperature was 106.7 F taken axially and temporally.  We have seen so many specialists and so many doctors and they cannot figure out what is wrong with him.  We have seen Rheumatology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and an Allergist.  We have had second opinions, third opinions, etc.  We just keep getting the same answer that no one knows and they agree the fevers are abnormal and definitely a concern, but no answers.  JIA (Juv. Arthritis) has been ruled out and Lupus has tested negative.  We are still waiting on a full genetic fever syndrome panel to come back with results, but these syndromes are so rare and he does not have many of the symptoms associated with the various syndromes.

I am posting this information in the Neurosurgery forum because he has an arachnoid cyst in his in his posterior fossa.  We have been told by several different Neuro docs that this cyst is no cause for concern and is not the reason behind these mystery fevers.  I have read several research articles about fossa cysts and there is much debate about the problems that can result from not removing these cysts.  While our son has no visible swelling or hydrocephalous, I still believe there could be something going on with the cyst.  

He is a 3 year old male, 35 points, 42 inches tall.

The symptoms he has:


-Sensitivity to sunlight (eyes only - no rash)
-Fevers ranging from 101F-105F on average
-Joint pain and difficulty standing upright when fever is evident
-Underdeveloped gross motor skills for walking, running, and jumping

Please let us know your opinion.  We are desperate for answers.

[twopack]

You might want to look into Still's disease.  It's another rare one, but the high sed rate and CRP occur with it and usually match up with a negative RA factor and ANA.  It's an inflammatory disease that causes fevers and joint pain.  But it also has a characteristic salmon colored rash (non-itchy) that is visible with the fever.  You say your son had no rash.  If he's still having fevers, I'd check him over carefully (especially the trunk) next time his temperature spikes.

Hoping he's healthy and well by now.
Mary

[EABenardini]

That is what one of the Rhematalogists has told us, however, they have not stopped.  It has been, again, 6 months.  We are told everytime the fever goes away that it "could be the last one." We were also told that usually random fevers do not last more than 3 months recurring.  He is suffering everytime he gets one of these episodes and they have not gotten any better.  I also forgot to mention that his labs are abnormal everytime they are drawn.  His C. Reactive protein is 600% above normal and his sedimention rate is 60-80 each time.  I have been to that web site before and it does provide a lot of information, but it's not really helpful because the tests for fever of uknown origin that are listed have been done.  Only 2 of those tests listed have come back abnormal.  I forgot to mention (sorry - lots of stress going on...forget some things sometimes...) that he has a verbal tic when these episodes occur that is not present when he is "not sick."

[Honor60]

Here is some information.for you:
http://www.fpnotebook.com/id/exam/fvr.htm
From all my reading, the thinking is that the fevers will either just stop or more symptoms will occur. Steroids should never be used either. The above sit has a lot of information on this problem.