Help me diagnose this! Night sweats and temp for a month

[lukewarm]

Help, I'm at a loss, and would like some ideas to present at the GPs on Monday, rather than getting sent away with 'it's an unspecific virus' (which it could be - no problem with that, but I'd like to rule anything else out first since its being going on for over a month now).

Back story (quite long, sorry, just trying to get all relevant details down): in December dd2 had 2 weeks of cold type symptoms, ending with a couple of days of 40 degree temp. She seemed ok in herself, just normal poorly, but then started shaking and shivering badly and v unwell, so took her to the docs on the advice of nhs direct. Doc said couldn't see anything in particular, but possible start of an ear infection, and so gave a weeks worth of antibiotics.

This did the trick, but since then -ie for the last month- she's been sweating hugely at night and at lunchtime nap time (no obvious temperature, although I haven't been taking it as she's seemed fine otherwise). 80% of the time I have to change her bedding as its totally soaked, and she also has rashes coming and going. No other cold symptoms though, no snotty nose or anything. Each time it got to the point I thought right, doctors, she seemed to get better, but only for a couple of days.

Anyway, last night she woke up in the night with a 40 degree temp again, utterly soaked. Same again this morning (lots of calpol and calprofen given last night and today to manage the temp).

Took her to the walk in centre and saw a nurse, who said there was no obvious ear/throat etc infection, it wasn't measles, rubella, scarlet fever - all the usual possibilities (and she's had all her jabs except tb). Also got her urine checked (getting a sample was interesting!), and clear, so no uti.

Nurse said to take her to gp on Monday for further investigation, blood tests etc, and not to be fobbed off as the sweats etc weren't normal. But tests for what? Any ideas gratefully received before my washing machine refuses to ever speak to me again..?

Are her glands up?

This sounds potentially very serious, I agree totally with what your nurse said. DD needs urgent investigation. Keep on at the GP and insist you are seen on Monday. If they are obstructive I would consider A&E (which is not normally something I would suggest). You must tell the doctor everything in this post, you've described things very clearly. Maybe print it out.

I agree with Bonzo her symptoms are potentially very worrying, needs blood tests on Monday IMHO. I am an HCP btw, I would also take to A and E if the GP is no help to you.

No her glands are ok. She's 2.5 yrs btw, forgot to mention that.

Don't scare me! Potentially serious as what?!

Sometimes infections could cause sweats and fevers or sometimes if there are alterations to blood count for example - the GP is the best person to check it out rather than Dr Google though, honestly.

Any recent foreign travel or other symptoms? Is she well in herself or more lethargic?

Not horrible, potentially a problem , not to be fobbed off with 'just a virus' with persistent symptoms. Neither of us are diagnosing or attempting to, just signposting her towards someone who can investigate properly.

exactly moaning, I'm not going to say to the OP, Oh it's probably just a virus....

Thank you - all comments very welcome. I don't think anyone is trying to scare me really, don't worry, I'm quite level headed and not usually prone to panic!

Not trying to diagnose as such either, just looking for some ideas and pointers really, maybe someone who has experienced similar, as seems very odd to me as she's fine most of the time, it's just this recurrent temperature. The docs are usually very helpful, but half the time I do have to gently point them in the direction they should be going (and sometimes I'm wrong too, but a collaboration is generally a good idea I think, not a view that docs are gods and know everything).

I will push for some more investigations then. Thanks, you've given me the 'spine' to do that.

And no, no foreign travel (I wish!) and she is well in herself so long as the temp is under control (today), and over the last month she's been fine also, no temp just sweats and rashes. Most peculiar.

.

Last bump before an early bed, in anticipation of another rubbish nights sleep!

You can always call the Children's hospital at any time or the local hospital and ask to speak to the on call paediatrician and if they are worried they will tell you to take them in.

If you call out of hours doc and play it all up a bit they will call hospital and tell them to expect you.

Also though I think an irate mother insisting on an urgent referral to a paediatrician scares most GPs (especially if you refuse to leave until they do this) so perhaps insist on it.

Thanks - I think I need a push sometimes to be more forceful (always kind of talk myself down in my head, don't be so silly etc etc), so this has all helped (remember one memorable occasion summoning up the courage to take dd1 to the docs for breathing problems, and the doc was pretty that we hadn't just gone to a&e straight off!).

It could be all sorts of things, some not serious (glandular fever, for instance) and some more serious (Hodgkins, for instance) and the odds are always in your favour for less serious

But it would be a mad doctor who fobbed you off with occasional fevers, night sweats and rashes. Any GP you see on Monday should refer your dd for some tests, either way.

So, wishing you well for tomorrow - we're all behind you!

DRenching night sweats CAN be the sign of something like lymphoma...BUT..in the absense of other symptoms eg swollen glands i'd have thought it highly unlikely

My DS has trouble with persistently swollen glands and the doc always asks if he's had night sweats, weightloss and tiredness.

Surely if a child was seriously ill they would be VERY poorly rather than having vague symptoms?

I would think so paddyclamp, it seems more likely it's just a virus she can't quite shake, so overwhelms her when she's tired (very vague medical basis for this!) - or maybe glandular fever, her nana just suggested that, although she's not wiped out like you would expect. She slept for 14 hours last night, no sweats and no temp, totally fine today. Keeps going like this, then in a few days she' ll be sweaty again (am very grateful for the sleep though . Will make sure the doc checks her out properly though x

Although this definitely needs investigating I thought I would tell you my story. My dd had temps for a whole YEAR with a massive gland in her neck and night sweats. Finally demanded investigation during a particularly bad bout and spent a week in hospital with temps of 42. They did a blood film for leukemia (negative) and every other test bar biopsying the lymph node. Everything was negative. She is completely well but always has a low grade temp. I think she just runs hot.
Good luck tomorrow.

That sounds like a very stressful year knackeredmother, I'm glad all the tests came back clear. They are very odd creatures, these children!

OP, reading this it sounds like my DD (2.10) who GP has said is just struggling to shrug off a virus (been about 10 days now). Just wondering how it went yesterday?

Ah - we didn't actually take her to the GP in the end. Couldn't get an appointment, and she wasn't sweaty that night, so left it. She was a bit tired and irritable all last week - still getting over whatever she's had at the weekend I guess - so was going to take her in on Friday. But couldn't get an appointment again (our GP is harder to get into than Fort Knox!).

She was fine this weekend, and no big night sweats for over a week now, so I'm hoping that's the last of it. 2-3 weeks of illness + 4 weeks of sweating - I certainly hope that's it finished with anyway!

My DD seemed fine in herself (apart from the initial illness before Christmas, and the weekend before last with the 40 degree temp!), which is why we hesitated about going back to the GP so much, but if your DD still seems ill then do go back. Hope she gets better soon.