Grandson age 10 with fever

[Nora38]

Grandson age 10 has been running a temp up to 103 + for the past 6 days; prescribed antibiotics have not helped.  He has had some stomach issues; not hungry and yes, he is drinking lots of water and Gatorade. When does a constant fever become abnormal or dangerous?

[darlingdivatx]

He may be in the 1st phase of kawaski's disease. Here's some info...
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Signs and Symptoms
Kawasaki disease can't be prevented, but usually has telltale symptoms and signs that appear in phases.

The first phase, which can last for up to 2 weeks, usually involves a persistent fever higher than 104° Fahrenheit (39° Celsius) and lasts for at least 5 days.

Other symptoms that typically develop include:

severe redness in the eyes
a rash on the stomach, chest, and genitals
red, dry, cracked lips
swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps
sore, irritated throat
swollen palms of the hands and soles of the feet with a purple-red color
swollen lymph nodes
During the second phase, which usually begins within 2 weeks of when the fever started, the skin on the hands and feet may begin to peel in large pieces. The child also may experience joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. If your child shows any of these symptoms, call your doctor.

Complications
Doctors can manage the symptoms of Kawasaki disease if they catch it early. Symptoms often disappear within just 2 days of the start of treatment. If Kawasaki disease is treated within 10 days of the onset of symptoms, heart problems usually do not develop.

Cases that go untreated can lead to more serious complications, such as vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. This can be particularly dangerous because it can affect the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.

In addition to the coronary arteries, the heart muscle, lining, valves, and the outer membrane that surrounds the heart can become inflamed. Arrhythmias (changes in the normal pattern of the heartbeat) or abnormal functioning of some heart valves also can occur.

Diagnosis
No one test can detect Kawasaki disease, so doctors usually diagnose it by evaluating the symptoms and ruling out other conditions.

Most kids diagnosed with Kawasaki disease will have a fever lasting 5 or more days and at least four of these symptoms:

redness in both eyes
changes around the lips, tongue, or mouth
changes in the fingers and toes, such as swelling, discoloration, or peeling
a rash in the trunk or genital area
a large swollen lymph node in the neck
red, swollen palms of hands and soles of feet
If Kawasaki disease is suspected, the doctor may order tests to monitor heart function (such as an echocardiogram) and might take blood and urine samples to rule out other conditions, such as scarlet fever, measles, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or an allergic drug reaction.

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See if these symptoms match your grandson. If so, you may want to have him evaluted for this. It can cause stomach problems because the blood vessels that supply the intestine start to break down in some way.

I'm not sure if it says in the info above but I think a fever that high for that long and no response to the antibiotics, you should definitely suspect kawaski's if for no other reason than to rule it out.

[Linda777A]

Have you tried washing him down with ice water?  Some use lots of rags, wet them in a little tub & lay them on his body.  Then repeat.     Or put him in a bath tub with cold, cold water in it & wash him off.


Good luck & God Bless!!
Will put you in my prayers!
Linda