If you experience a monthly fever along with abdominal and head pain, the symptom that could draw the most attention is your fever. The Cleveland Clinic reports that periodic fever syndrome refers to non-infectious conditions. People with one of these conditions are typically well between episodes. The syndrome has a genetic factor and a diagnosis is determined based on age of syndrome onset, symptoms and family ethnicity.
Familial Mediterranean Fever
Familial Mediterranean fever, or FMF, is an inflammatory condition and the most common periodic fever disease. Symptoms include recurrent fever, pain and swelling in the joints and abdomen. Those typically affected include people of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean decent including Turks, Arabs, Armenians and Sephardic Jews. Onset of FMF often occurs before the age of 20, with more than half of those with the disease first presenting symptoms prior to 10 years of age. FMF is genetic and affects a protein that controls inflammation. The disease is much more mild in adults. There's no cure for FMF, but it can be controlled with medication.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome
Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome, or TRAPS, is a hereditary disease but can occur in patients with no family history of the condition. Symptoms include episodic fevers that can last up to three weeks; abdominal pain sometimes combined with nausea or vomiting; painful skin rashes usually on the arms, trunk or legs; cramping muscle pain in the body and arms; and swelling around the eye. TRAPS is caused by a gene defect that leads to an abnormal inflammation response and is a lifelong condition with no cure.
Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome
Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome, or HIDS, is a rare genetic condition characterized by periodic high fevers, swollen lymph nodes, skin rashes, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. People with HIDS often have a neurological disease that affects growth. Periodic fevers are symptoms of the mild form of HIDS only. HIDS typically occurs in the first year of life and affects males and females of all ethnic groups equally. HIDS is caused by defected protein that's partly responsible for making cholesterol. Fevers, the main symptom of HIDS, occur every two to 12 weeks and can last from three to seven days. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, body pains, skin rashes, mouth ulcers and swollen lymph nodes. No cure exists for HIDS.
Treatment
If you believe that you or your child has a periodic fever syndrome, you should see your doctor. Researchers from Stavanger University Hospital in Norway indicate that no treatment exists for patients with periodic fever syndrome, but removing the tonsils of children can be effective, depending on the symptoms. Colchicine is a medication prescribed for people with FMF and is used to prevent symptoms such as inflammation rather than treat them. Drugs known as TNF inhibitors have been used to manage TRAPS symptoms. Patients can also take over-the-counter medications to treat pain and swelling.
