Strange Symptons

[AIm1028]

I am writing on behalf of my father. He is 73 years old and in excellent mental and physical health. About twice a year he comes down with these strange symptoms that put him in bed for at least 4-5 days. There is no rhyme or reason for them and I was hoping that someone could help. Usually, the first day he starts to feel dizzy and very tired (almost cold-like symptoms) then on the second day he is so tired that he cannot get out of bed. His mind is running miles a minute and every time he closes his eyes, his eyes twitch and he cannot relax. He cannot sleep for about 24 hours. He gets chills so bad that he cannot control them and bundles with 4-5 blankets. The next day he cannot move, pure exhaustion. He is pale and has no appetite. He is so weak that it hurts him to breathe or talk. About the 4th day, he starts to feel slightly better and by the 5th day it is gone like it never happened. This experience follows the exact sequence every time. It used to happen once a year but now it happens twice a year. Other than this, he never gets sick and is in perfect health? Does anyone have any ideas, please?

[GravesLady]

Just a guess here. Was your father in the service or has he traveled  to a malaria-risk areas?  Malaria came to my mind because your fathers symptoms sounds a little like what my husband went through years after contacting malaria in the service.  People who have had malaria can have relapses and suffer several additional attacks after months or even years without symptoms. Relapses can cause fever, chills, weakness and flu-like illness. Attacks consists of a cold stage (sensation of cold, shivering), a hot stage (fever, headaches, vomiting and  a sweating stage (sweats, return to normal temperature, tiredness).
However, I may be way off.

[AIm1028]

Interesting because when he gets these spells he calls it his "maleria spells"  since the symptons are similar.
Yes, my father did travel in the service over 40 years ago.  He has been having these spells for over 30 years, once a year.
This year it was twice and he fainted 3 times in one day and sent himself to the hospital.

[GravesLady]

I believe there is treatment to reduce the chance of relapses.