|  | Family Health | Childrens Health

Constant Fevers in Children

A fever is an increase in body temperature that is possibly a symptom of an underlying condition such as a cold or virus. Constant fevers in children--also referred to as chronic fevers--are ones that occurs repeatedly over time. Fever functions in a child's body as a response to disease and stimulates the immune system to battle viruses or bacteria and kill germs. A fever can develop at a range of speeds and can be as low as 100.4 degrees up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

  1. Causes

    • Constant fevers in children can be caused from experiencing a series of viral infections or colds. Recurring fevers may also be caused from relapsing infections such as tuberculosis, typhoid or malaria. Other medical conditions that can cause constant fevers include autoimmune diseases such as lupus or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

    Treatment Options

    • For mild infections causing chronic fever, on-aspirin fever reducers can be used to reduce fever and relieve symptoms such as aches and chills. Children with constant fevers should also get plenty of rest and increase fluid intake to prevent dehydration. Your pediatrician may also recommend the use of pediatric electrolyte re-hydration solutions to maintain your child's mineral levels. Try giving your child a lukewarm bath and dressing her in light clothes to make her more comfortable while experiencing fever symptoms. Treatment for serious underlying conditions--such as autoimmune diseases such as lupus or hyperthyroidism--that are causing your child to experience constant fevers will depend on the type of infection and the manner in which your pediatrician chooses to treat the condition.

    Considerations

    • In rare cases, your pediatrician may be unable to determine the cause of a constant fever. These types of fevers tend to be bacterial infections in younger children and inflammation of connective tissue in older children. If your pediatrician determines that your child's constant fever is of an unknown origin, he may require your child to undergo a positron emission tomography scan, also known as a PET scan. A PET scan is minimally invasive and radionuclide imaging test that produces three-dimensional images of any organ within the body such as the heart, liver or brain. A PET scan usually provides an early diagnosis of causes of constant fever and can eliminate the need for invasive diagnostic testing.

    Prevention

    • Preventing fevers in children may not always be possible, but parents can make sure their child performs frequent hand-washing as a prevention method to reduce the likelihood that he will contract fever-causing infections such as colds and viruses. Children should be encouraged to wash their hands regularly throughout the day, especially after using the restroom, before meals and after playing with and petting animals.

    Warning

    • If your child is suffering from a constant fever--and is also experiencing stiffness of the neck or the inability to bend her neck and sensitivity to lights--it is possible she could be showing signs of a meningitis infection. Meningitis is a serious and potentially fatal infection that needs immediate medical treatment.

Childrens Health - Related Articles