Genetic Febril Disorder Theory

[Momcat]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21220401

[KCLP]

Thanks for finding and posting this, Momcat.

It is not made clear if these children experienced one or two episodes of fever with inflammatory symptoms post KD or continued episodes for years.

I question if some of these kids could have had the fever syndrome pre-KD.

Still, KD takes many forms and not all kids fall into this catagory. Researching KD by it's different sub-types would add specific understanding to the conclusions.

I have no doubt this conclusion is a direct result of the recent PFAPA research program led by DR. Hoffman at the University! I had a feeling the two research programs would find a common bond.

KCLP

For those interested in the connection check this out:

http://www.pediatrics.ucsd.edu/news/pag ... earch.aspx

[liquidambar]

KCLP;
I wonder what caused these kids to get their tonsils out in the first place. They were probably constantly swollen, is that the criteria of having them removed?? I don't think my two kids were swollen all that much, but am really not sure. What about Wes - was his tonsils swollen much? I don't see it being as simple as taking out the tonsils.

Still in this report, they are beginning to link these inflammatory diseases together, are beginning to get a better picture of this whole mess, and that is progress!!!!!

Both of these reports are at last : A VERY GOOD BEGINNING! (only took 'em 30 years).

[KCLP]

Liquidambar,

A tonnsillectomy for children with PFAPA have had mixed results. Some children improve greatly, for others the duration of the fevers are shortened, and yet with others there is no improvement. You are left to wonder if the surgery is an effective treatment or are the children naturally growing out of the syndrome.

Decades ago it was common for children to have a tonsillectomy - KD or PFAPA DX was rare. Now, few children have the surgery and a KD or PFAPA DX is more common. Is there a connection? By not removing the tonsils, is the immune systems in some kids being kicked into overdrive, perhaps the tonsil is an unknown host? Then you can get into the argument; is KD and PFAPA increasing in the population or are they being DX more frequently due to awareness and education.

KCLP

[liquidambar]

Thanks for the answer.
At first, I just threw this idea out of my head, no way; but you know in some cases maybe the lymph nodes around in the tonsils may well be the problem in "some kids". In Kawasakis, lymph nodes swelling up in other places of the body is very common, from reading the symptoms of other parents on this web site.

The only thing that swelled up in my daughter was her spleen. The spleen swelled up to the point that a surgeon was called in - with the intention of removing it. Scary stuff, since a child who has had it's spleen removed seems to be okay, and then near death or dies a few years later.

My son always had a sore throat, but I never noticed if it was all that swollen. Maybe it was?

The spleen and tonsils are large lymphoid organs that serve similar functions to lymph nodes, though the spleen filters blood cells rather than lymph.

It is also in the lymph nodes that the T cells sit around manufacturing lots of carbon copies of immune complexes brought to them by the B cells.
What if a child was lucky enough to have these problem T cells only in its tonsils. It may well make a difference in having them removed.
Very interesting.
Thanks.