Symptom: Fever

Introduction: Fever

A fever usually means the body has raised its temperature to fight an infection or condition. The most common causes are infectious viruses such as cold or flu. Also possibilities include gastroenteritis, hepatitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, urinary tract infections, measles, roseola, prostratitis, mononucleosis, dental abcess, TB, and drug reactions. The most common causes of fever in children include cold, flu, otitis media, throat infection, UTI, or roseola, but there are numerous other possibilities. Less commonly, fever can be caused by extremely serious conditions such as meningitis, meningococcal disease, and others.

Chronic cases of mild fever can indicate various conditions. Some possibilities are hepatitis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, and reactions to drugs (so-called drug fever). But there are many other possibilities and there is a long list of conditions with fever as a symptom. For comparison, see the list of conditions with cold-like symptoms or flu-like symptoms.

» Review Causes of Fever: full list

Causes of Fever:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Fever. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Numerous conditions can cause fever including infections or afflictions of the entire body or almost any organ or body location
• Infections
  • Common cold
  • Flu
  • Viruses
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Chest infection
  • Ear infection
  • Mononucleosis
  • Meningitis
  • Acute bronchitis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Mastitis
  • Tonsilitis
  • Roseola
  • Pneumonia
  • Chicken pox
  • Measles
  • Rubella
  • Mumps
  • Scarlet fever
  • Acute appendicitis
  • Typhus
  • Tropical disease - especially if recent travel to a tropical country.
  • Viral infection
  • Malaria
  • Typhoid
  • Chronic infections - some can cause recurring fevers.
  • Acute kidney infection - see kidney infection

See full list of 1218 causes of Fever

» Review Causes of Fever: full list

Causes of Types of Fever:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Fever:

• Chills (318 causes)
• FUO (25 causes)
• Prolonged fever (122 causes)
• Mild fever (50 causes)
• High fever (61 causes)
• Very high fever (2 causes)
• Recurrent fever (14 causes)
• Fever in the returning traveller (12 causes)
• Hospital acquired fever (10 causes)
• Postpartum fever (12 causes)
• Severe temperature increase
• Fatal fever
• Postoperative fever (7 causes)
• Coldness (9 causes)
• Feeling cold (4 causes)
• Temperature sensitivity (66 causes)
• Shivering (33 causes)
• Cold skin (34 causes)
• Nipple coldness (6 causes)
• Neck coldness (8 causes)

See full list of 83 types for Fever

Fever: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Fever, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Fever: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Fever and Temperature symptoms (914 causes)
• Fever and Pain (759 causes)
• Fever and Nerve symptoms (732 causes)
• Fever and Sensations (721 causes)
• Fever and Digestive symptoms (572 causes)
• Fever and Muscle weakness (470 causes)
• Fever and Fatigue (463 causes)
• Fever and Head symptoms (463 causes)
• Fever and Swelling symptoms (434 causes)
• Fever and Abdominal symptoms (430 causes)
• Fever and Muscle symptoms (421 causes)
• Fever and Skin symptoms (421 causes)
• Fever and Respiratory symptoms (404 causes)
• Fever and Skin problems (336 causes)
• Fever and Weakness (332 causes)
• Fever and Weight loss (323 causes)
• Fever and Vomiting (321 causes)
• Fever and Abdominal pain (319 causes)
• Fever and Sweat symptoms (310 causes)
• Fever and Headache (310 causes)

See full list of 2064 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Fever

Home Diagnostic Testing and Fever

Home medical tests possibly related to Fever:

• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Tests
  • Home Flu Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Common symptoms (4555 causes)
• Temperature symptoms (1021 causes)
• Sick (3141 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Fever

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Fever:

• Flu-like symptoms (64 causes)
• Cold-like symptoms (111 causes)
• Headache (977 causes)
• Cough (441 causes)
• Chills (318 causes)
• Night sweats (110 causes)
• Cold sweats (108 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Fever

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Fever from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Fever. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Fever

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Fever

Sinusitis is overdiagnosed: There is a tendency to give a diagnosis of sinusitis, when the condition is really a harmless complication of another infection, such as a...read more »

Whooping cough often undiagnosed: Although most children in the Western world have been immunized against whooping cough (also called "pertussis"), this protection wears off after about 15 years. Thus, any teen or adult with a persistent cough may...read more »

Pelvic inflammtory disease due to STD's: Pelvic inflammory disease is a general term to describe an inflammation of the uterus and fallopian tubes. It...read more »

Not always a case of appendicitis: Pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen leads to numerous differential diagnoses in the mind of the doctor.Not all...read more »

Weil's disease has poor outcome in severe cases: Leptospirosis( Weil's disesase) is a zoonotic condition which occurs due to the entry of spirochetes called leptospira. Transmission occurs by direct...read more »

Rash of Dengue can be misdiagnosed: Dengue fever also known as 'breakbone fever' is a mosquito borne viral infection. The most common clinical...read more »

Wegener's granulomatosis can be missed out: Wegener's granulomatosis is a condition of unknown etiology which usually affects the upper respiratory tract, lungs and the...read more »

Lack of early signs in renal cell carcinoma: Renal cell carcinoma lacks early warning signs and makes a much generalised presentation. Hence the chances of it being misdiagnosed are higher. It has to be...read more »

Acute pyelonephritis missed in children and elderly: Acute infection of the kidney can be life threatening if not diagnosed early and treated adequately....read more »

Dizziness in children: Dizziness although not a common cause in children can have threatening causes and requires quick diagnosis as the possibility of tumours such as medulloblastoma is possible but the most commonest causes include seizure of the temporal lobe. other...read more »

Painful throat- look for infectious mononucleosis: Infectious mononucleosis must be considered in 15- 25 year old patients presenting with a painful throat. The patient presents with slow onset of malaise, fever, headache sore throat...read more »

Immediate care in Quinsy: Quinsy is an episode of acute tonsillitis which is untreated or inadequately treated and progresses to abscess formation....read more »

Neuroblastoma can be confusing...: Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor of neural crest origin and is the most common solid tumor of infancy and childhood. The most common site of tumor is the adrenal medulla....read more »

Dressler's syndrome or post- MI syndrome: Dressler’s syndrome also known as the post- MI syndrome usually occurs a few weeks after the infarction. It appears to be an immunological reaction characterized by...read more »

Kawasaki's disease can be misdiagnosed as common childhood ailments: Kawasaki’s disease is a febrile disorder affecting children below 5 years. It affects mainly the blood vessels but can also affect the mucous membrane,...read more »

Blindness in Tuberculosis could be drug- induced: Pulmonary tuberculosis is the infection of lung caused by the organism called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The involvement of the lungs is the...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Fever

Diagnostic tests for Fever:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Fever. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • General appearance - e.g. jaundice may suggest hepatitis, ascending cholangitis or cholecystitis.
  • Temperature - Fevers can be due to infection; malignant disease; metabolic disorders (e.g. gout); blood disorders (e.g. hemolytic anemia); vascular disorders (e.g. stroke, brain hemorrhage); immunological disorders (e.g. lupus).
  • Examine the heart for a heart murmur which would suggest bacterial endocarditis
  • Examine the lungs for noises that suggest pneumonia or bronchiectasis

See full list of 40 diagnostic tests for Fever

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Fever. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the fever? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• What is the pattern of the fever? - e.g. intermittent fever of malaria, Epstein-Barr virus and ascending cholangitis; continuous fever is common with viral infections such as influenza; remittent fever where temperature returns towards normal for a variable period but is always elevated may occur with pelvic abscess, wound infection and cancer; undulant fever where bouts of fever for several days are followed by several days of normal temperature occur with brucellosis infection and lymphomas.
• Travel history? - overseas travelers or visitors may have special or even exotic infections.
• Past medical history? - e.g. AIDS, Rheumatic fever, pneumonia, immunodeficiency, cancer.
• Recent surgery? - may suggest post-operative complication e.g. wound infection, aspiration pneumonia, lung collapse, urinary catheter related urinary tract infection, intra-abdominal abscess.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Fever (13 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Fever) may include:

• Pain and location of the pain? - can help determine focus of infection e.g. sore throat may indicate streptococcal pharyngitis, viral upper respiratory infection, infectious mononucleosis, leukemia and subacute thyroiditis; headache may indicate meningitis or encephalitis; chest pain may suggest pulmonary infarction, heart attack, Bornholm disease, tuberculosis, pleurisy or empyema; abdominal pain may suggest pyelonephritis, cholecystitis, appendicitis, liver abscess or diverticulitis; joint pain may suggest rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis or septic arthritis; ear ache may suggest middle ear infection or mastoiditis.
• Frequency and burning of urine? - would suggest pyelonephritis, abscess around the kidney or abscess in the prostate.
• Cough? - may suggest pneumonia, lung abscess, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis or chronic fungal disease in the lung.
• Bone pain or bone swelling? - may suggest osteomyelitis.
• Body discharge? - e.g. vaginal, penile, anal, tooth, ear, nasal.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Fever (13 listings)

Stories from Users for Fever

Real-life user stories relating to Fever:

• Im sick of feeling Ill, any ideas?
• Constant mild increase in temperature - annoying!! Please help.
• Feel Sick as Soon as I reach Warm/Hot Air
• What exactly regulates temperature?
• Temperature is all over the place
• Not feeling so hot...
• Possible Celiac? ALWAYS feeling sick!
• Sickness feeling
• constant feeling of sickness
• hot feeling all over without a temperature
• Really nauseous/gassy/vomiting/body aches-Doesnt feel like stomach flu
• Bloating, Feeling sick... What is wrong?
• feeling..sick
• Feeling Sick in Evenings - IBS related?
• Recuring Fevers (every week) and sever Chills

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Fever or relevant symptoms:

• Constitutional (General Wellbeing) (156)
  • Sore Scalp/hair follicles
  • Fat loss in entire body
  • Dont know how much more I can take..
  • I'm Lost.
  • My wife does not sweat I'm worried
  • More user stories
• ENMT (Ears, Nose, Mouth and Throat) (275)
  • Swelling in roof of mouth
  • Pain on one side of throat
  • Please help! Mucus/dark circles/bad breath...
  • Painful white bumps on tongue
  • Sinus headache & eye area pain
  • More user stories
• Respiratory (Lungs and Breathing) (136)
  • Chlorine/ammonia odor when I breathe
  • Chest Pain/Pain While Breathing
  • Clearing throat cough and breathing difficulties
  • Chest discomfort
  • Unable to get diagnosis....please help!
  • More user stories
• Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
  • Bloating/Distention/Intestinal Gas
  • Intense Abdominal Pain
  • Help Please! Extreme Abdominal Pain/Gas/Bowel Symptoms ++
  • Feels like a baby kicking-not pregnant
  • 7 year old with severe heartburn/stomach aches
  • More user stories
• Genitourinary (The urination system) (138)
  • Burning In Penis After Urination. Std/urine Culture = Negative
  • Blood in urine (hematuria)
  • I KEEP PEEING AND I DONT KNOW WHY!! Iplease some1 help me
  • Excessive Burping..
  • Swollen (enlarged)Kidneys, normal blood tests (no stones)Dr.'s not helping
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (88)
  • Chronic hives
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

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Causes of Fever listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Fever as a symptom include:

• 5-Azacytidine
• Abacavir
• Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
• Anthrax
• Babesiosis
• Bartonellosis
• Bleomycin
• Blood transfusion and complications
• Bornholm disease
• Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia
• Burkitt's lymphoma
• Campylobacter jejuni
• Caspofungin
• Cellulitis
• Chagas' disease
• Cholecystitis
• Cocaine
• Colorado tick fever
• Common cold
• Cystitis, infective

See full list of 1218 causes of Fever
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Fever:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Fever as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Certain antibiotics
• Sulfa
• Antihistamines
• Barbiturates
  • Phenobarbital

See full list of 1063 medications causing Fever

Drug interactions causing Fever:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Fever as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Lithium Carbonate and haloperidol interaction
• Eskalith and haloperidol interaction
• Eskalith CR and haloperidol interaction
• Lithane and haloperidol interaction
• Lithobid and haloperidol interaction

See full list of 224 drug interactions causing Fever

Definitions of Fever:

Fever: pyrexiophobia.
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

A rise in body temperature above the normal, often as a response to infection. [GO:jl]
- (Source - Diseases Database)

A rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Organs affected by Fever:

The list of organs typically affected by Fever may include, but is not limited to:

• General constitution

Detailed list of causes of Fever

The list below shows some of the causes of Fever mentioned in various sources:

• 5-Azacytidine
• Abacavir
• Abdominal abscess - fever
• Abdominal Cancer - fever
• Abdominal cystic lymphangioma - fever

See full list of 1218 causes of Fever

How Common are these Causes of Fever?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Fever. Of the 1218 causes of Fever that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 19 causes are "very common" diseases
• 39 causes are "common" diseases
• 21 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 4 causes are "rare" diseases
• 122 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 1058 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 1218 causes of Fever

Conditions listing symptoms: Fever:

The following list of conditions have 'Fever' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

A