Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Two-Year-Old with a Fever for Two Weeks | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
I have a two-year-old who has been running a fever for the last two weeks--usually higher at night around 102 to 103. Her pediatric doctor tells me it is a viral infection. He has not prescribed any medication, and I am feeling very uncomfortable with that. She has lost a lot of weight because she doesn't want to eat. I don't want to continue giving her the fever meds because I know that is dangerous as well. Please tell me what should I do. Should I bring her to another doctor?
— Ablone in Shelton, CT | | | ANSWER |
February 7, 2002 | | | Dear Ablone,
I am sorry to hear that your daughter has been so sick. It is possible that this illness started out as a viral infection just as her pediatrician suggested, but two weeks is a long time for fever to last with routine viral infections. I'm afraid the fact that it is higher at night doesn't help pin down the cause since nighttime is when children's fevers usually are highest no matter what the cause. I also am concerned about her weight loss since this is an indication that there may be something going on that needs special treatment. Some causes of fever don't have any specific symptoms to tell you what is going on. A classic example of a "silent" cause of fever at this age is a urinary tract infection, but there are many other possibilities, all of which require different kinds of treatment.
I suggest that you have her examined again right away. If you see the same pediatrician and he still doesn't find a good reason for the fever (e.g., a urinary tract infection, etc), you can ask if it is time for a referral to a specialist in children's infectious diseases--there are quite a few excellent specialists in this discipline in Connecticut and New York.
— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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