Suffering From Persistant Fever. Feeling Unbalanced While Walking. Is This Due To Hormones Defection?

Posted on Tue, 25 Sep 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 Answered on

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : I'm 75 years old, hadn't any chronic diseases but a prostate inflammation and prostate was surgically reduced twice years ago, now suffering from persistant fever 38-38.5 C two months ago accompanied by general weakness and fatigue, also sodium and potassium decrease (2.9 k, 119 na). sometimes temp. decreases for hours or complete day but when it comes again it comes with dizziness or unbalancing in walking may due to falling and uncontrollable and frequent urine quantities; sometimes large quantities, with temporarly hypertension goes with giving some releases. we made much analysis for blood pictures and cultures, urine analysis and culture, renal functions, liver functions, lipid profile, and some viruses ( Cytomegalo virus- Epstein Barr Virus ) all are normal but with MRI on brain we found some lacunar brain infarctions due to aging and doctors expected that it has no relation with his late fever and uncontrollable urination. please advise for any possible diagnosis or requested analysis. do you think about hormones defection???

Answered by Dr. Anantharaman (8 hours later)

Hi

Thanks for writing in.

I have read through the details provided with diligence and what you apparently to have is fever and probably urinary tract symptoms with negative urine cultures. Clinically your symptoms appear like a urinary tract infection - given the history of prostate surgery it is highly likely.

Chronic prostatitis could present like this and the cultures could be negative because the infection is slightly XXXXXX seated. You need an evaluation by urologist.

Therefore if you haven't consulted an urologist yet, please consider visiting one.

There is no clear explanation for the low sodium and potassium; at your age if you are taking any diuretics to lower blood pressures, then that could be the cause for these abnormalities.

Regarding endocrine problems causing such symptoms there are only 2 possibilities
1) Thyroiditis -Please get a T3, T4 and TSH levels checked to rule this out.
2) Adrenal insufficiency - this is less likely though because you have low potassium; the condition is associated with high potassium. You could get a morning cortisol - taken between 8AM and 9AM to rule this out.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other enquiries.

Regards
Anantharaman

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad