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What Causes Fever And Joint Pain?
Question: Well I need someone to talk me off the ledge. My 21 year old son away at college developed mild to moderate joint pain (it acually started in his foot), then traveled to knee, ankle and sometimes fingers. Went to school clinic. She noticed a small rash cluster on his back and thought it was Lyme. Treated for one week Meanwhile rash grew until covered entire chest, large pink oval or circular shapes and back too. Nothing on face or neck or leg. Did not itch.. He followed up at an infectious disease specialist, who tested for Lyme, among many other things and of course general blood tests. Everything came back normal/ except one marker indicating significant inflammation. Doctor thought probably a viral infection that would run it's course but referred him to dermatologist to look at rash. His apt. there is in one week. He had about a week of complete disappearance of rash and joint pain. Then rash came back with the joint pain-always together. Went back to infectious disease guy and he took more blood, retested for Lyme. He also thought rash resembled ptyriarosea (sp) so tested for herpes as well. Again, everything came back normal, except still evidence of inflammation (joints I assume) The herpes test will not be back till Friday so do not know about that. I should say that otherwise he really is not sick. His joint pain is almost completely controlled by Ibuprofon and he is going to classes, walking a lot, texting al the time so he is fully functional and feels otherwise okay He says the rash tends to worsen then recede. When it recedes it appearance changes and almost looks like hives. so what are your thoughts? Could it be an autoimmune thing. My first thought was rheumatoid arthritis but please know his joints are not red, hot or swollen. Maybe another autoimmune disease. Lupus does not fit, no butterfly rash, facial rash or other symptoms. He is just focused on his studies I am the worried mom. Any help is welcome!!
Brief Answer:
Lupus is still a possibility
Detailed Answer:
Good evening mam
Thanks for writing on Health care magic
I havee gone through your history. I understand your concern , being a mom always makes you extra worried.
Fever and joint pains can be due to lot of diseases. Lyme disease is just one of the differential. It can be pure viral as well but it doesn't recur again.
First step I will suggest you is to book an appointment with a rheumatologist in your area. He will be able to guide you better.
As for the diseases, it is less likely to be rheumatoid as rheumatoid doesn't cause rash. Lupus is still a possibility , you need not have butterfly rash for diagnosing lupus. It can present as any rash.
But fading rash, joint pains and fever I would still wanna keep Adult onset stills disease as a possibility. I am not too sure if the blood reports for serum ferritin, ESR and crp have been checked.
But don't worry too much. Whatever the problem is,it can be controlled and sometimes they have a different course where it disappears itself.
But yes, your next step should be to consult a rheumatologist.
Do let me know for more of your queries. I will be happy to talk it out with you.
Take care
.regards
Lupus is still a possibility
Detailed Answer:
Good evening mam
Thanks for writing on Health care magic
I havee gone through your history. I understand your concern , being a mom always makes you extra worried.
Fever and joint pains can be due to lot of diseases. Lyme disease is just one of the differential. It can be pure viral as well but it doesn't recur again.
First step I will suggest you is to book an appointment with a rheumatologist in your area. He will be able to guide you better.
As for the diseases, it is less likely to be rheumatoid as rheumatoid doesn't cause rash. Lupus is still a possibility , you need not have butterfly rash for diagnosing lupus. It can present as any rash.
But fading rash, joint pains and fever I would still wanna keep Adult onset stills disease as a possibility. I am not too sure if the blood reports for serum ferritin, ESR and crp have been checked.
But don't worry too much. Whatever the problem is,it can be controlled and sometimes they have a different course where it disappears itself.
But yes, your next step should be to consult a rheumatologist.
Do let me know for more of your queries. I will be happy to talk it out with you.
Take care
.regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thamk you for answer: Can Lupus be controlled? I know it cannot be cured but isn't it often fatal? What would some of the other Lupus symptoms be because he feels otherwise well? Is this a ikely possibility at his age and for his sex?
Regarding adult onset sills is that tratable? In other words you do not think the condition is likely terminal or requires immediate hospitalization?
Thanks for your response and we will visit a rheumatologist .Just need a little more reassurance that it can be managed whatever it turns out to be:
Regarding adult onset sills is that tratable? In other words you do not think the condition is likely terminal or requires immediate hospitalization?
Thanks for your response and we will visit a rheumatologist .Just need a little more reassurance that it can be managed whatever it turns out to be:
Brief Answer:
? Cause of Arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening,
Yes Lupus can be controlled. Males usually tend to have a milder form of it as compared to females. It mostly affects the people in age group between 15-40. But it is rare disease of the males. Other symptoms are usually low grade fever, fatigue, oral ulcers, rash over the face and other parts of the body. It can even cause chest pain and difficulty in breathing.
Since he is doing well, it may not be a possibility.
Adult onset stills disease is mostly a diagnosis of exclusion. Keep it last in your list once all other diagnosis has been ruled out. We normally diagnose patients with it when they have persistent joint pains, rashes and fever without a cause found. But yes, it is controllable as well. It doesn't not require immediate hospitalization.
Oh yes, don't you worry about that. There are pretty good treatment options available to control the disease. There have been lot of advances recently which will help control the disease.
What I will suggest is to visit a Rheumatologist instead of a dermatologist. If the appointment is taking time, I can advise you the blood tests which you can get it done before seeing him..and it will give us a fair clue on the problem we are dealing with.
Lastly, you don't stress out too much. You don't wanna spoil your health taking so much stress. Let the doctors take that stress for you. I assure you it is all controllable whatever the problem is..
Do let me know for more queries
Regards
Dr naval
? Cause of Arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening,
Yes Lupus can be controlled. Males usually tend to have a milder form of it as compared to females. It mostly affects the people in age group between 15-40. But it is rare disease of the males. Other symptoms are usually low grade fever, fatigue, oral ulcers, rash over the face and other parts of the body. It can even cause chest pain and difficulty in breathing.
Since he is doing well, it may not be a possibility.
Adult onset stills disease is mostly a diagnosis of exclusion. Keep it last in your list once all other diagnosis has been ruled out. We normally diagnose patients with it when they have persistent joint pains, rashes and fever without a cause found. But yes, it is controllable as well. It doesn't not require immediate hospitalization.
Oh yes, don't you worry about that. There are pretty good treatment options available to control the disease. There have been lot of advances recently which will help control the disease.
What I will suggest is to visit a Rheumatologist instead of a dermatologist. If the appointment is taking time, I can advise you the blood tests which you can get it done before seeing him..and it will give us a fair clue on the problem we are dealing with.
Lastly, you don't stress out too much. You don't wanna spoil your health taking so much stress. Let the doctors take that stress for you. I assure you it is all controllable whatever the problem is..
Do let me know for more queries
Regards
Dr naval
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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