2. Unexplained Fever: PAN’s Deceptive Alarm
Fevers are tricky. A slight elevation in body temperature might just be the body’s way of fighting off a minor infection. But when it comes to PAN, an unexplained, recurrent fever can be one of its telltale signs. Unlike a fever resulting from the flu or an infection, PAN-induced fevers seem to come out of the blue.
The unpredictability of these fevers is what sets them apart. You might feel completely fine one moment and then be struck by a sudden fever the next. And these aren’t your typical, mild fevers. They can be high and persistent, causing discomfort and even confusion in some cases.
For someone unaware of PAN, these fevers can be a source of significant distress. They can be mistaken for signs of recurrent infections or other medical conditions. But here’s what’s interesting: PAN-related fevers are not typically associated with other common symptoms of an infection, such as a runny nose or sore throat.
The mechanisms behind these fevers are complex. In PAN, the inflammation of blood vessels can lead to tissue damage. This damage, in turn, can trigger the body’s fever response. It’s the body’s way of sounding an alarm, indicating that something is not right within.(2)
