Sore throat, red flushed face.

[Slosh]

Hi it's me AGAIN - I hope I am not been a pain.

I got a sore throat almost at the start of taking Pred (20mg - beginning Feb thus year) - I am tapering to 12.5 this week - my throat is getting increasingly sore. I also have hypothyroidism (Hashimotos).

Also is it normal to have red flushed looking skin on ones face - from the Pred.

Also what's the deal about telling your doctor if you've had a history of malaria - which I have had - and did tell my Rheumy - but he said nothing

Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes, the rosy farmer's wife face is a common side effect of pred I'm afraid. It usually improves once you get to lower doses I found.

Can't see having had malaria is significant except as part of a clinical history (previous illnesses). Why do you ask?

You need to get the sore throat looked at in case it is something you just aren't getting rid of or a fungal infection which is possible. But it MAY be what is called "silent reflux" - pred can cause gastric irritation and often patients are given a PPI (omeprazole) along with pred to avoid it by reducing the acid production in the stomach. Some people can't use PPIs because of the side effects - ranitidine/Zantac is just as good with fewer/different side effects. Many people on the forums found that eating yoghurt with their pred also helped.

Are you on any other medications besides pred?

[Slosh in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRpro - thanks for your response.

The Malaria issue came up on Prednisolone drug info sheet which I saw online. Much like if you have thyroid disease, or liver disease etc etc - tell your doctor..... Just wondered why.

I only take Levothyroxine (125) for my thyroid and vitamins.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slosh]

The data sheet says "active malaria" - so provided you were treated properly and all residual malaria parasites were killed off there shouldn't be a problem.

And not being on anything else - it could well be reflux causing your sore throat.

[Slosh in reply to PMRpro]

Oh - thank you. The one I read - said 'a history of malaria' - it may mean recurring malaria which some people have.

I will treat it as reflux and see what happens - if not will see my doctor.

[SnazzyD]

Hi,

I've been on Pred for two weeks. My face is fine until 4pm about 18hours after the dose, then my face goes beetroot until I go to bed.

Re malaria. Generally a year after travel especially to non European type countries or to non tourist environments any unexplained or repeating fever needs to be checked. Eg if the rest of the family have it with a snotty nose, then odds are it's a normal virus. If you have been in a malaria area or have had malaria diagnosed in the past a particular blood test needs to be done to look for malaria parasite and a full blood count to rule out a relapse or other potential problem. If you want to learn more go to travelhealthpro.org.uk/tag/...

[Slosh in reply to SnazzyD]

Oh - thank you - that makes sense.