Re: Question about treatment options

[Guest guest]

,

We use prednisone for most of Eli's episodes, which

often brings the episodes too close together. If we

skip prednisone, and go back to Tylenol/Ibuprofen, the

original non-prednisone cycle pattern returns

immediately.

Hope that helps!

Jen Harvey

[Guest guest]

,

We use prednisone for most of Eli's episodes, which

often brings the episodes too close together. If we

skip prednisone, and go back to Tylenol/Ibuprofen, the

original non-prednisone cycle pattern returns

immediately.

Hope that helps!

Jen Harvey

[Guest guest]

Hi there

My husband and I are also against having a T & A performed on our son at this

young of an age (27 months). I was also very hesitant of trying Prednisone for

my son who has been fevering since 8 months as well. After speaking with

several pharmacists, my Dr. and our son's Pediatrician, we are now much more

comfortable to try the Prednisone, with the reason being, that the low dose that

is required to treat the fever has a very small risk of side effects. From what

I now understand, it is only with a daily dose of a much more significant amount

can there be more serious side effects and this is with continued dosing over a

long period of time.

On a side note - after researching many medical journals, it has been documented

that for some, the Prednisone may bring the fevers closer together - as you have

noted. These journals go on to state however, that with continued and proper

dosing and usage of the Prednisone, it has been suggested that the fevers, will

over time begin to spread out again.

Now, although we do have a prescription for Prednisone, we have not tried using

at this time on our son. The reason being is that our son is on Singulair which

he takes daily and this has seemed to lower the last few fevers to a much more

manageable temperature and the actual fever episodes are only lasting 2 days. I

should note however, that if the next few fevers spike to a very high

temperature again, we will try the Prednisone.

Good luck!

[Guest guest]

Hi there

My husband and I are also against having a T & A performed on our son at this

young of an age (27 months). I was also very hesitant of trying Prednisone for

my son who has been fevering since 8 months as well. After speaking with

several pharmacists, my Dr. and our son's Pediatrician, we are now much more

comfortable to try the Prednisone, with the reason being, that the low dose that

is required to treat the fever has a very small risk of side effects. From what

I now understand, it is only with a daily dose of a much more significant amount

can there be more serious side effects and this is with continued dosing over a

long period of time.

On a side note - after researching many medical journals, it has been documented

that for some, the Prednisone may bring the fevers closer together - as you have

noted. These journals go on to state however, that with continued and proper

dosing and usage of the Prednisone, it has been suggested that the fevers, will

over time begin to spread out again.

Now, although we do have a prescription for Prednisone, we have not tried using

at this time on our son. The reason being is that our son is on Singulair which

he takes daily and this has seemed to lower the last few fevers to a much more

manageable temperature and the actual fever episodes are only lasting 2 days. I

should note however, that if the next few fevers spike to a very high

temperature again, we will try the Prednisone.

Good luck!

[Guest guest]

This does help a lot! Thank you so much for the response!

[Guest guest]

This does help a lot! Thank you so much for the response!

[Guest guest]

This post was very helpful, thank you! Could you maybe point me in the

right direction as far as the medical journals concerning prednisone

usage? May I ask also, what is your son taking Singular for? It's not

specifically for the is it?

[Guest guest]

Hi there

Yes, he is taking the Singulair specifically for , as is is a very safe,

proven drug(for Asthma) with few side effects. For some children, the Singulair

lengthens the time between fevers and also lowers the overall height of the

temperature when the child does fever. Although still fevers, his

episodes have been much less severe while on the Singulair. You can actually

use the search engine on the site to look up posts re: Singulair.

There will also be a summary from a Dr who conducted a recent study on the use

of Singulair for .

Regarding the medical article that I purchased that I have found very useful

regarding the use of Prednisone - unfortunately, due to copyright laws, I cannot

post the entire article - but I will give you the free abstract and from there

you can decide whether to purchase it or not. Please see below.

syndrome - new clinical aspects revealed

Tasher 1*, Eli Somekh 1 and Ilan Dalal 1

Arch Dis Child. Published Online First: 4 April 2006.

doi:10.1136/adc.2005.084731

Copyright © 2006 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Royal College of Paediatrics and

Child Health

Abstract

Background: The recently described syndrome is characterized by periodic

fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis. However, there is

currently relatively little data on the natural history of this syndrome.

Objective: To describe the presentation, clinical course, physician's awareness,

therapeutic response and long-term follow-up of children with syndrome.

Methods: Children with syndrome, referred over a 5- year period (from

January 1999 to January 2004) were enrolled in the study. Data were gathered

from medical records, parents' interviews, physical examination and telephone

calls.

Results: A total of 54 cases of syndrome were evaluated. Our patients had

higher rate of abdominal pain (65%) and lower rate of aphthous stomatitis (39%)

as compared to previous reports. We identified four different patterns of

disease evolution including relatively common (n=14, 26%) and newly described

course of alternating remissions and relapses. The remissions lasted 8.5 months

in average (range: 4-36 months). Diagnosis was established by primary

pediatricians in 30/54 (56%). However, a significant delay in diagnosis was

apparent (mean: 15 months). Attacks were aborted by a much lower dose of

prednisone or equivalent corticosteroid (mean: 0.6 mg/kg/day, range: 0.15-1.5

mg/kg/day) than reported previously. Tonsillectomy was successful in the

prevention of recurrence of further episodes in all 6 cases that underwent the

procedure.

Conclusions: We describe several new characteristics of syndrome in

children, contributing to our knowledge of this relatively unrecognized but

troublesome syndrome. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can

significantly improve the quality of life of both patients and families.

[Guest guest]

Thank you! You have been most helpful!