chronic low grade fever

[btswc6]

My husband has had a low grade (under 101) fever off and on for 2 years. It does seem to get worse on the Fall/Winter. He has allergies but he does take meds for that consistently year round. He really has no other symptoms, other than what the fever brings like chills, sweats, headaches and some muscle aches. Almost flu like symptoms. Our doctor always says it is just a virus, but that is odd to me seeing as the fever never gets very high and sometimes it can last for a month or so. He has had bronchitis once throughout all of this. He is in perfect health (just ran amarathon) and all of his blood work concerning cholesterol, etc is better than perfect. He is 38. He is miserable and is always feeling like he has the flu. Please give us some direction as our doctor just does not have much to say about it. Last week my husband did start talking about pain in his testicles and he is going to see his urologist next week but since that is a very recent phenomena I am quite sure they do not have to do with one another. The fever thing started at least 2 years ago and the pain was just on this last month. Help?!

[FeverGirl]

I am sorry your husband is going through the low-grade fever thing.  Has it been resolved yet?  It is now December 2007.  I have had a fever since 2002.  Actual diagnosis is Fever of Unknown Origin and as Dr. Pho recommended, go through the gammet of testing posted above with a local doctor.  If that doesn't expose the cause, don't give up.  I finally took my problems to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.  The team of doctors--start with an Internal Medicine doc then they will direct you to all the other specialists--they are very thorough and you can get many tests done in a short period (plan on staying a couple of weeks).  For most people with a FUO this is enough to find the answers.  Unfortunately, I still have the fever and no answers.  I return to the Mayo Clinic yearly for a work-up that costs my insurance company approx. $80,000.  I would be SOL if I didn't have insurance.  Look up Fever of Unknown Origin on the web and see if any of it looks familiar.  I am hopeful that something will turn up eventually that is treatable.  I have learned to live with my disability and the fact that I don't know what it is that is causing me so much grief.  I know what I can do and can't do and push myself when I can and then know I will have to pay for it later and plan for the down time.  Counseling helped me because I too went from being super healthy, not running marathons but close, to feeling like I have the flu all the time.  Good Luck and Good Health!!
-FeverGirl

[kw47781]

i would definitely seek out an infectious disease doctor, and possible a rheumatology doctor.  check for Lupus, but especially Lyme disease.  does he remember, maybe 2-6 months before he first started showing symptoms, having a bugbite or a rash, particularly a rash with a clear or white center and a red ring around it?  or a sore spot/rash on his scalp?  

his symptoms sound like inflammation, but finding the underlying cause of the inflammation is something you need to work on ASAP, even if it means getting another doctor, or at the very least, a second opinion.

[smile681]

A related discussion, low grade fever was started.

[patruns]

A related discussion, chronic low grade fever was started.

[Doc2000]

Hi, does your husband still have the fever?
Dr A Eales

[PlateletGal]

In addition to ruling out lupus and lyme disease... I would add Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to the list. Low grade fevers, allergies, muscle aches and flu like symptoms are common in CFS patients'.

Good Luck !

[Kevin Pho, MD]

There are many reasons for a low-grade fever.  Obvious sources of infection should be ruled out, including cultures of blood and urine.  

A PPD can be planted to exclude TB.  Imaging studies of the chest/abdomen/pelvis can be done to exclude an abscess as well as lymphoma.  

Accompanying blood tests can be done to help exclude an infection or inflammation.  Examples would be a blood count as well as a sedimentation rate.  

A referral to an infectious disease specialist should be considered to discuss these options.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com