Prolonged Fever in Children

Although parents tend to become concerned whenever their children develop fevers, having a child with a prolonged fever can be particularly worrisome. Prolonged fever in children can take a long time to diagnose, since this condition has so many possible causes.

The Facts

• According to The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado, a prolonged fever, also called a fever of unknown origin (FUO), occurs when your child develops any fever that lasts for more than 14 days.

Causes

• Your child may develop a prolonged fever as a result of a range of different diseases or illnesses, including urinary tract infections, autoimmune diseases (such as inflammatory bowel disease and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) or cancers (such as lymphoma or leukemia).

Evaluation

• When diagnosing the cause of your child's prolonged fever, the doctor's most important evaluation tools are your little one's medical history and symptoms, including your child's fever pattern, any recent weight loss and recent exposure to sickness (such as through travel).

Testing

• Depending upon the results of your child's evaluation, the doctor may refer your child to specialists or suggest a range of testing in order to provide a definitive diagnosis; some possible testing options are blood testing, urinalysis and a chest radiograph.

Treatment

• Treatment for your child's prolonged fever varies, depending upon test results. The Children's Hospital in Denver states that many children's prolonged fevers resolve independently before your doctor can discover the cause.