Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis syndrome is a medical condition, typically occurring in young children, in which high fever occurs periodically at intervals of about 3–5 weeks, frequently accompanied by aphthous-like ulcers, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (cervical lymphadenopathy).
[1][2][3] The key symptoms of PFAPA are those in its name: periodic high fever at intervals of about 3–5 weeks, as well as aphthous ulcers, pharyngitis and adenitis.
Diagnosis requires recurrent negative throat cultures and that other causes (such as EBV, CMV, FMF) be excluded.
[7] Surgical removal of the tonsils appears to be beneficial compared to no surgery in symptom resolution and number of future episodes.
[8] According to present research, PFAPA does not lead to other diseases and spontaneously resolves as the child gets older, with no long term physical effects.
[11][non-primary source needed] Children with PFAPA experience lower physical, emotional, and psychosocial functioning.