Question: My child runs a fever every 2 weeks and the fever lasts for days. He will start to eat less, sleepy and less active. How can I reduce the frequency of his fever?

Answer: The most frequent cause of recurrent fevers in children are overlapping new infections. This can be minimised by ensuring that your child take a well-balanced diet especially the anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals, avoiding crowded places or sick contacts, adequate sleep, outdoor play and vaccinations.

Recurrent fevers may also be caused by primary immunodeficiency diseases, which are rare diseases whereby individuals are born with lowered immunity. This should be considered if the infections are recurrent, persistent, of unusual severity or atypical germs found.

Other rheumatological diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus or periodic fever syndromes can also cause recurrent fevers and need to be excluded.

Dr Liew Woei Kang
Paediatrician
Sub-specialty in Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology
SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, Asthma, Lung, Sleep & Allergy Centre

(Note: Dr Liew Woei Kang is no longer with SBCC Baby & Child Clinic)

If you find this article useful, do click Like and Share at the bottom of the post, thank you.

Want more comprehensive info? Check out our e-guides here.