Need a little input. An elite 15yr old runner (nat’l record holder at several distances) often experiences flu-like symptoms after hard efforts. The symptoms include low-level fever, chills, and nausea (no vomiting, but loss of appetite), which can typically last 24hrs or so. His parents state he drinks about 70 oz of water each day, and has a good diet. It doesn’t sound like he has a lot of electrolyte intake.
Any ideas what might be going on?
Sounds like you answered your own question.
coach always advises me to take electrolyte drinks or water with a pinch of salt inside before training.
Plain water isn’t bad for you but with high levels of exercise we need salts as well.
I personally use electrolyte tabs from High5 since I’m sponsored by them
http://highfive.co.uk/product/hydrate/zero
This one girl on my swim team in college used to have the same symptoms with vomiting after every race and it was diagnosed as a severe adrenaline crash…no idea if its applicable here, just throwing that out there.
There are many missing pieces to this puzzle. The sparse details sound like a lingering low-grade flu virus emerges possibly due to imminosuppression after hard runs. Keep in mind that the immune system of a 15 year-old is not completely developed. This talented runner should rest and be isolated from outsiders as much as possible for 12 hours after races.
No ideas, but certainly watching this thread and can relate well.
Just to add info,
I frequently end up crashing HARD and/or getting sick following big races or race weekends. Typically end up with what seems like a severe cold and general weakness. Normally all I want to/end up doing is pretty much just sleeping, 18+ hours and then slowly rebuilding into training. I use to be that kid who hadn’t been sick in like 5 years until I started training seriously about a year ago. Just getting over my 5th illness this year. Big training or racing efforts seem to compromise the immune system leaving me (and others in a similar situation) super prone to picking up bugs/viruses really quickly at school.
how long has this been going on?
I assume tested for mono and other viral syndromes
normal white cells?
normal immunoglobulins?
thyroid? adrenal testing?
insulin? testosterone?
If your runner is in the southwest, it could be a low-grade of Valley Fever (google it)
.
There are many missing pieces to this puzzle. The sparse details sound like a lingering low-grade flu virus emerges possibly due to imminosuppression after hard runs. Keep in mind that the immune system of a 15 year-old is not completely developed. This talented runner should rest and be isolated from outsiders as much as possible for 12 hours after races.
If cross country running is anything similar now as it was back when I was in hs, forced isolation isn’t necessary as it happens naturally. We’re just not popular.
There are many missing pieces to this puzzle. The sparse details sound like a lingering low-grade flu virus emerges possibly due to imminosuppression after hard runs. Keep in mind that the immune system of a 15 year-old is not completely developed. This talented runner should rest and be isolated from outsiders as much as possible for 12 hours after races.
Yeah, I was thinking immune system, too, or perhaps excretory (kidneys) considering the symptoms. To answer another’s question, I was told this has been going on intermittently for over a year - not sure what evaluations have been conducted.
What does he consume following the races? Chills can be low blood sugar. It would make you very weak as well. Any chance he’s on the edge of being too lean as well?
What does he eat the 4 hours leading up to a race? How much and when?
No ideas, but certainly watching this thread and can relate well.
Just to add info,
I frequently end up crashing HARD and/or getting sick following big races or race weekends. Typically end up with what seems like a severe cold and general weakness. Normally all I want to/end up doing is pretty much just sleeping, 18+ hours and then slowly rebuilding into training. I use to be that kid who hadn’t been sick in like 5 years until I started training seriously about a year ago. Just getting over my 5th illness this year. Big training or racing efforts seem to compromise the immune system leaving me (and others in a similar situation) super prone to picking up bugs/viruses really quickly at school.
This is my experience too. Getting more sleep helps mitigate the problem sometimes, but if I’m really worn out from training/racing then sometimes I’m too tired to sleep.
exercise induced asthma?
exercise induced asthma?
Probably, because we know that every elite runner, cyclist and triathlete has a prescription for an inhaler, so it must be an epidemic or something.
exercise induced asthma?
Probably, because we know that every elite runner, cyclist and triathlete has a prescription for an inhaler, so it must be an epidemic or something.
Don’t be a dick.
I suffer from EIA. I don’t have an inhaler, I suck it up.
man … it was a joke!
man … it was a joke!
Sorry, I’m a bit dense! It’s true that there are some questionable inhaler prescriptions out there…
I get this…I don’t think there’s a fever, but I get nausea, fatigue, and a foggy brain after hard workouts/races. I have a lot of trouble sleeping as well. I would often get bad colds after hard workouts in winter.
I ended up retiring from being competitive because I couldn’t deal with the side effects anymore. My doctors could never figure it out.
Good luck, I’ll be watching this thread to see if anything is learned.
exercise induced asthma?
Probably, because we know that every elite runner, cyclist and triathlete has a prescription for an inhaler, so it must be an epidemic or something.
Don’t be a dick.
I suffer from EIA. I don’t have an inhaler, I suck it up.
EIA makes it hard to suck it up. …thats the problem 
Good thoughts above. I’d add one more possibility in that he could have a subtle variation in metabolism at the extremes of physical effort.
Nausea, aches and malaise could result from accumulation of certain metabolites that result when he has limited options for energy production. He may burn some metabolites poorly (very-long chain fatty acids for example). Fever would not be so common.
While his abilities (top times at some distances) would make the diagnosis of a common/severe ‘inborn-error-of-metabolism’ very unlikely, it may be worthwhile for him to see a metabolic specialist and arrange to have labs done during one of these episode to see if a specific culprit can be found (ketones, lactate, CK, acylcarnitine profile, urine organic acids, etc).
At the most, it could have health implications. At the least, it could influence his strategies for fueling during one of these extreme efforts to maximize performance/minimize sequelae.