What is the diagnosis and management of Febrile Vasculitis (FVA) in pediatric patients?

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Last updated: January 19, 2026View editorial policy

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What is FVA in Children?

Based on the available evidence, "FVA" does not appear to be a recognized medical abbreviation or diagnosis in pediatric medicine. The evidence provided discusses various forms of vasculitis in children, but none use the acronym "FVA" or "Febrile Vasculitis."

Clarification of Terminology

The term "FVA" is not found in:

  • American Heart Association stroke guidelines 1
  • American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guidelines 1
  • European urology guidelines 1
  • Recent pediatric vasculitis literature 2, 3, 4

Relevant Pediatric Vasculitis Conditions

If you are asking about vasculitis presenting with fever in children, the most common and clinically important entities include:

Kawasaki Disease

  • The most common acute febrile vasculitis in children under 5 years of age 5, 6
  • Presents with fever ≥5 days plus characteristic features (conjunctival injection, oral changes, rash, extremity changes, cervical lymphadenopathy) 7, 8
  • Requires urgent echocardiography and treatment with IVIG 2 g/kg plus aspirin to prevent coronary artery aneurysms 8
  • Risk of coronary complications increases significantly if treatment is delayed beyond 10 days of fever onset 7, 8

Cerebral Vasculitis

  • Difficult to diagnose in children, as not all have clinical or laboratory signs of inflammation 1
  • Should be considered in children with stroke accompanied by fever, multifocal neurological events, unexplained skin lesions, or elevated sedimentation rate 1
  • Primary CNS vasculitis is rare and characterized by headaches and altered consciousness 1

Other Pediatric Vasculitides

  • IgA-associated vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura) and Kawasaki disease are the most common vasculitides in childhood 3, 4
  • Vasculitis is an important consideration in children with prolonged fever, unexplained pains, new neurologic findings, or persistent inflammation 2

Diagnostic Approach for Febrile Children with Suspected Vasculitis

If you suspect vasculitis in a febrile child, the evaluation should include:

  • Complete blood count with differential, ESR, CRP, comprehensive metabolic panel 7, 8
  • Urinalysis and urine culture (catheterized specimen) to exclude UTI 7
  • Blood cultures before antibiotics 7
  • Echocardiography if Kawasaki disease is suspected 8
  • MRI/MRA or angiography if cerebral vasculitis is suspected 1

Please clarify if you meant a different abbreviation or provide additional context about the specific condition you are asking about.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Vasculitis in childhood.

Rheumatic diseases clinics of North America, 2002

Research

Pediatric vasculitis.

Current opinion in rheumatology, 2016

Research

Childhood vasculitis.

Rheumatology (Oxford, England), 2020

Research

Kawasaki disease: etiopathogenesis and novel treatment strategies.

Expert review of clinical immunology, 2017

Research

Atypical Kawasaki Disease in a 5-month-old Infant.

Annals of African medicine, 2025

Guideline

Diagnostic Approach to Prolonged Pediatric Fevers

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Management of Fever and Rash in Children

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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