PFAPA syndrome is the most common periodic fever syndrome among children. Although genetic causes have not been determined, this syndrome tends to be grouped with hereditary fever syndromes. It typically starts in early childhood (between ages 2 years and 5 years) and tends to be more common among males. Recently it has been recognized in adults as well (1).
Febrile episodes last 3 to 6 days and recur about every 28 days. The syndrome causes fatigue, chills, and occasionally abdominal pain and headache, as well as fever, pharyngitis, aphthous ulcers, and lymphadenopathy. Patients are healthy between episodes, and growth is normal.
General reference
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1. Rigante D, Vitale A, Natale MF, et al: A comprehensive comparison between pediatric and adult patients with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenopathy (PFAPA) syndrome. Clin Rheumatol 36(2):463–468, 2017. doi: 10.1007/s10067-016-3317-7.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of PFAPA syndrome is based on clinical findings, which include the following:
Acute-phase reactants (eg, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) are elevated during a febrile episode but not between episodes. Neutropenia or other symptoms (eg, diarrhea, rash, cough) are not present; their presence suggests a different disorder. Specifically, cyclic neutropenia needs to be ruled out.
Treatment
Treatment of PFAPA syndrome is optional; it can include glucocorticoids, such as a single dose of prednisone (1 to 2 mg/kg orally) or betamethasone (0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg), which, when given at the onset of an episode can dramatically abort fever attacks in a few hours, cimetidine (20 to 40 mg/kg orally once a day), and, rarely, tonsillectomy. Other drugs such as anakinra have been tried with some success in refractory cases. Patients tend to outgrow this syndrome without sequelae.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Drug Name | Select Trade |
|---|---|
betamethasone |
CELESTONE SOLUSPAN, DIPROLENE, LUXIQ |
prednisone |
RAYOS |
cimetidine |
TAGAMET |
anakinra |
KINERET |
