Question:
Anyone know of anything that would cause Malar rashes (on the face) Joint Swelling, Chronic pain, A lacey looking rash on the rest of the body (I get it on my arms, legs and chest) and also swelling in my face and fevers around 103 when it hits me, I'm also tired all the time...

I also pass out.
I've been told i have fifths disease one of the times I went to the ER, the rash looks just like it on my face and arms and everything but it keeps happening over and over again.
Been tested for leukemia once when I was really bad.
Told I had reactive hypoglycemia once after passing out (endo did tests and turns out i don't)
Told I have Fibromyalgia after seeing the reumatologist, but I've done research and a lot of these symptoms don't match,

I used to go to the ER at least 2x a month (from the age of about 13) cause I would have high fevers with rashes and swelling in my joints and cheek and passing out and stuff, and the nurse line would tell us to go to the ER so we did.
The doctors never figured out whats up though, I usually was discharged with a nothing is wrong type thing or problem unknown, and now that im older and dont have insurance since i moved out of my parents house (Im 19 now) and my symptoms have gotten pretty severe when they hit, I usually have to drop everything im doing cause i cant function. (think resting my hand on a table sends pain through my arm so bad im in tears.)

My mom has "Lupus Like Syndrome" aparently they say its not lupus cause her tests were negative...

My little sister who is in primary school is starting to have the same rashes and fevers and stuff too
I dont really know whats up, Ive been trying to do research but I cant find anything that matches whats going on.


Answer:
Interesting history, but not one that can lead to a diagnosis -- especially if all that testing has been done before.

The most interesting part of this, though, is that There seems to be a genetic or familial link to it.

FUO (Fever of Unknown Origin) has a entire chapter in medical and emergency room texts. It's a signal of something, but often takes a diligent clinician to track down the causes and rule it out. Shotgun approaches do not usually work. At best, they eliminate the symptoms for awhile, but they often return.

First thing is to keep a good diary. If nothing else, document your symptoms date and time. Use one of the pocket folding calendars so you always have it with you.

This is all ringing a bell for me. It sounds familiar.

Here is a bit of info on FUO:


PostGraduate Medicine is one of my favorite journals:


The Merk Manual always cuts to the chase:


the bottom line here is that the fever to me seems important, as does the collegen-vascular link with your rashes, joint pain and generalized pain as described.

Unfortunately, the only way to resolve this is to seek professional medical help, with a your symptoms diary as above, and work to eliminate what it's NOT, in the hope to lead you to what it is. Diagnosis by exclusion. Often, by eliminating what it's not, you end up with what it is by exclusion -- even if the symptoms are not classic, or are completely atypical.

As an example, I have (and have seen others with) a low uric acid gout. Gout is always harped as being high levels of uric acid, that starts to accumulate in your joints. My UA is always low or normal, but I have gouty pain that responds to traditional gout treatments. Sometimes, if it looks like something, smells like something or acts like something it *IS* that something, even if the lab tests come up "normal". After all, "normal" is only an accepted range, that for any given individual may be high or low for them. (Biologic units are infinitely variable by nature).

Perhaps, if you eliminate a bunch of the bad guys, you'll find you have something treatable, but you are just at one end of the range where your numbers come up "normal" but therapy will resolve your symptomatology.

Why no one has been able to come up with any answers -- or therapy -- in 6 years of treatments (or visits) is a sad commentary on the state of medicine today.

Answer:
Hey Ally, how are you doing?

If you have any doubt that these symptoms being fifth disease, call your doctor for a diagnosis. (Nin When To Seek Medical Treatment) A clinical diagnosis of this disease must sometimes be made with caution, since rubella - commonly known as German measles and some eteroviruses have also been shown occasionally to cause a nearly identical syndrome. (Ray 1016)

For example, other symptoms of rubella, which are more common in teens and adults, may include: headache; loss of appetite; mild conjunctivitis (inflammation of the lining of the eyelids and eyeballs); a stuffy or runny nose; swollen lymph nodes in other parts of the body; and pain and swelling in the joints (especially in young women). Rubella infection may begin with 1 or 2 days of mild fever (99 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37.2 to 37.8 degrees Celsius) and swollen, tender lymph nodes, usually in the back of the neck or behind the ears. (KidsHealth Rubella - commonly known as German measles)

On the second or third day, a rash appears that begins on the face and spreads downward. As it spreads down the body, it usually clears on the face. This rash is often the first sign of illness that a parent notices. (KidsHealth Rubella)

NOTE: People who have rubella are most contagious from 1 week before to 1 week after the rash appears. Someone who is infected but has no symptoms can still spread the virus. (KidsHealth Contagiousness)

Rubella can be prevented by a rubella vaccine. The vaccine is usually given to children at 12 to 15 months, and second dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) is generally given at 4 to 6 years of age, but should be given no later than 11 to 12 years of age, however, as is the case with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances that you should discuss with you doctor. (KidsHealth Prevention)

REFERENCES
C. George Ray: Erythema Infectiosum (Fifth Disease)
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine; Eight Edition, chap. 203 OTHER VIRAL EXANTHEMATOUS DISEASES, vol. 2, p. 1016.

Irma Nin, MD: Fifth Disease When to Seek Medical Care
eMedicine.com, Inc., Patient Education Article, 2005.

Nemours Foundation (KidsHealth): Rubella (German Measles) Signs & Symptoms

Nemours Foundation (KidsHealth): Rubella (German Measles) Contagiousness

Nemours Foundation (KidsHealth): Rubella (German Measles) Prevention

Best wishes,
The Prison Hospital

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Doctor: I am, bit by bit.