What is PFAPA syndrome and what are its main symptoms?

This week marked World Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and Adenitis Syndrome Day.

Every September 4th, we seek to raise awareness and make the population aware of this disorder and provide professional support to people suffering from it with a good diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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According to the Cedars-Sinai website, PFAPA syndrome primarily affects children between the ages of 2 and 5. It causes repeated episodes of fever, mouth sores, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes.

It can occur without any underlying cause. This causes abnormal activation of the immune system, leading to episodes of fever and other symptoms. This syndrome belongs to a group of disorders that cause fever due to abnormal inflammation.

Symptoms of PFAPA Syndrome

These are some of the symptoms experienced by people with PFAPA Syndrome:

• Fever at regular intervals of 2 to 8 weeks. It usually reaches 38.9°C (102.5°F) and lasts 3 to 6 days.
• Mouth ulcers (aphthous stomatitis).
• Sore throat (pharyngitis).
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck (adenitis).
• White spots on the tonsils.
• Headache.
• Joint pain.
• Rash.
• Abdominal pain.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.

Treatment for PFAPA Syndrome

Some of the treatments that healthcare professionals prescribe to improve or completely eliminate this condition are the following:

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• Steroids: Usually cuts or stops the episode.
• Cimetidine or colchicine: Helps prevent future episodes.
• Surgery: Tonsil removal.

In some cases, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are helpful. However, it's always recommended that a specialist prescribe the appropriate medication for each individual.

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