5 year old; night sweats, frequent fevers and rash

[tanns]

My son is 5 years old.  He has horrible night sweats where sometimes we have to change his pajamas so he isn't sleeping in wet ones.  He does this right after he falls asleep.  When we go to bed his room smells from the sweat because the door has been closed (we open it when we go to bed).  This has happened for at least a year.  Also, he has been having frequent fevers, but only lasting a day.  He'll start at night with 103ish and stay that way for most of the next day and then he's fine.  He's done this three times this month.  And lastly, he has a rash on his bottom.  He is also itchy.

I have had him to the doc.  He is a very good one and seemed to be thorough.  He did a huge blood workup and all tests came back normal.  

I am still concerned this is not normal.  Does this ring a bell for anyone?  Has anyone had anything similar in a child?  Is there anything else I should be pressing for?  I hate to subject him to a a bunch of unnecessary tests but I don't want to be neglectful either.



I should mention that he has a bony growth on his 10th left rib, they are pretty sure it is a benign growth but he has to have a CT scan to make sure.  The doc and orthopaedic doc are sure his other symptoms are unrelated.

[hal08]

Hang in there, First find a pediatric infectious disease dr. in your area.  My son had the same symptoms and he is 6. He was just diagonsed with Basbesia.

[cherishnkaiden]

My son was born with a heart valve defect. So his heart wasn't pumping the blood the right way. His doctor noticed it when he was a couple months old. Because his heart made a clicking noise. They did the test and foundout it was his valve. But since he was so little they didn't want to do anything about, plus his symptoms weren't very severe. They decided to wait until he was 18 months to do anything else. We don't have a pediatric cardiologist here, so we have to wait until one from Salt Lake (which is about 4 1/2 hours north of here) comes down every few months. His symptoms in some ways seem to have gotten worse so they decided to take him to Primary Childrens hospital in Salt Lake (he was about 2.) It was so scarey. They did a scan of his heart, and discovered it was healed, and the size was at a normal size (it was enlarged.) His symptoms was the sweating, he was very under weight (in about the 3% range,) he had bad circulation, and he was sick all the time (a immune system problem.) He still in under weight, I think he was about 7% last checked. And he still sweats. He out grew the circulation problems and the immune system problem last year.
Was anyones kids born with the circulation problem? It was so weird. His body either top and bottom or the left and right sides would go two different colors. One side would be pink and the other yellow. I wish I would have taken a picture, it would've been great for the baby book!

[tanns]

If you don't mind me asking, what was the heart issue?  The only reason I am asking is because my son has complained of some chest issues lately that his doc seems to believe were related to his stomach virus and pneumonia.  I haven't heart much from him about it lately-but it still is in my head.  

I don't know what to do with him next, I really don't want to start taking him all over the place trying to find someone who WILL find something wrong with him.  I really trust his doc and he has a really go reputation in this area, I know he was thorough, but it just doesn't seem right.  

Today he has no fever but his butt cheeks are sooo itchy.  And actually the back of his kness too.  Almost like a heat rash.  I guess with the night sweats it could be, but I just don't know.  

I will let you know if I get any new info.  We see the doc on May 10 for my other son's annual checkup and I am bringing both boys.  I'll ask some more questions then!!

[tanns]

I haven't thought about a tick with him but now that you mention it, he did have a bite right in the middle of his scrotum in February.  We took him to the doc because he got so swollen that he couldn't walk properly, he looked like a little cowboy!  Anyway, his doc said it was a chigger bite but now I wonder............

His night sweats have been happening for longer than that but the fever has really been more on than off this spring.  I am definitely going to check out the info.

Thanks so much.

[cherishnkaiden]

My son has the nights sweats too! I don't now if for the same reason. He is 3 1/2. When I hold him, I can tell when he has fallen to sleep, because he gets really sweaty. He was born with a heart defect and they thought that was the root of the problem, but (luckily) his heart has healed itself about a year or so ago. But he is still getting the nights sweats nightly. I had a fan installed in his room, I only turn it on low, cause I worry about him getting sick from being hot in the cold air. But he gets so sweaty that his hair is wet and like your son his PJ's too. When I talk about it to a friend or family member, they never think its so bad, until they see him sleeping.
If you find anything else out, please let me know.

[Carol in PA]

Fever of unknown origin, or FUO, refers to fever in a patient that has resisted efforts at diagnosis for a significant period of time.

Night sweats have several causes, one of which is Babesiosis, a tick borne infection.

I googled for FUO + tick, and found these:

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:NeMF3fJsmhQJ:www.drhull.com/EncyMaster/F/FUO.html+fuo+tick&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:jA-diuU-KdEJ:www.visitmonmouth.com/06270_mcmec/ehrlich.html+fuo+tick&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us


The lab tests for tick borne infections are not very accurate, and many of them must be diagnosed by the patient's symptoms and history.
Doctors often tell patients that they do not have a tick borne infection, based on only a negative test.

I suggest that you do some reading about this, as you may need to find a doctor who is very familiar with tick borne diseases.
The Canadian Lyme Foundation has good information, and a page of rash pictures.
http://www.canlyme.com/patsymptoms.html

The flash discussion group at LymeNet.org is helpful to newbies looking for information about finding a doctor, testing and diagnosis.

Wishing you the best,
Carol