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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Recurring Headaches, Painful Neck And Fever In A Child?

My five-year-old granddaughter began this problem last summer when she was 4. She will be fine, then get a headache, she complains her neck hurts, then fever and feels terrible until a big dose of Ibuprofen brings down the fever. It has even spiked to 106. She has had numerous blood checks, all kinds of tests including meningitis tests, several doctors, a stay at children s hospital in Plano, TX....no answers as to what causes it. Over the winter it was almost nonexistent, but this week she has started it again...she can t live a healthy lifestyle on constant Ibuprofen. Any ideas on what we need to have checked next?
posted on Sun, 10 Jul 2016
Twitter Wed, 23 Oct 2019 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 30 Oct 2019 Last reviewed on
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hi,

Noted your history about your 5 year old granddaughter having recurrent neck pain, headache and high fever which needs high dose of Ibuprofen, undergone tests for meningitis and other ailments, all negative, has started the problem again.
Most probable cause can be diagnosed by the following ways:
Get her admitted to the hospital for proper clinical observation, temperature and pulse charting to know the type of fever.
May need repeat tests.
Also think about Malaria and tuberculosis.
Blood culture taken at the time of fever may help.
Take second opinion of another Pediatrician.
All these will lead to a proper diagnosis and management.
Such diseases like Malaria are missed as your area may not be having such cases.
Also remember the places she visited and tell your Doctors.
Urine tests with culture and sensitivity.
X-ray chest.
Ultrasonography or CT scan of abdomen all help to find out or rule out causes.
Spinal fluid tapping for lab test along with MRI of brain.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. T. Chandrakant, General Surgeon
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What Causes Recurring Headaches, Painful Neck And Fever In A Child?

Hi, Noted your history about your 5 year old granddaughter having recurrent neck pain, headache and high fever which needs high dose of Ibuprofen, undergone tests for meningitis and other ailments, all negative, has started the problem again. Most probable cause can be diagnosed by the following ways: Get her admitted to the hospital for proper clinical observation, temperature and pulse charting to know the type of fever. May need repeat tests. Also think about Malaria and tuberculosis. Blood culture taken at the time of fever may help. Take second opinion of another Pediatrician. All these will lead to a proper diagnosis and management. Such diseases like Malaria are missed as your area may not be having such cases. Also remember the places she visited and tell your Doctors. Urine tests with culture and sensitivity. X-ray chest. Ultrasonography or CT scan of abdomen all help to find out or rule out causes. Spinal fluid tapping for lab test along with MRI of brain. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. T. Chandrakant, General Surgeon