Fever Flashcards
Differential diagnoses of Fever
Lymphoma*
HIV*
Pyelonephritis*
Probability diagnosis
Pyogenic abscess (anywhere e.g. liver, pelvis)
Pneumonia (viral, bacterial, atypical)
Epstein–Barr mononucleosis
Viral upper respiratory tract infection
Urinary infection (incl. chronic pyelonephritis)
Serious disorders not to be missed
Vascular:
•vasculitides (polyarteritis nodosa, giant cell arteritis/polymyalgia)
Infection: •HIV/AIDS •malaria and other tropical diseases •zoonoses (e.g. leptospirosis, Q fever, listeriosis) •typhoid/paratyphoid fever •tuberculosis •osteomyelitis •chronic septicaemia/bacteraemia •infective endocarditis o Lyme disease o Syphilis (secondary)
Cancer:
•lymphoma and leukaemia
•solid cancers (e.g. lung, kidney)
•disseminated
Other:
inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohn)
Pitfalls (often missed)
Connective tissue disorder (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematous)
Sarcoidosis
Drug idiosyncrasies
Rarities:
•factitious fever
Note: Up to 20% remain unknown. FUO is fever < 38.3°C for at least 3 weeks
Fever - Key History
Key history
Include past history, occupation, travel history, sexual history, IV drug use (leads to endocarditis and abscesses), animal contact, medication and other relevant factors.
Enquire about associated symptoms such as pruritus, a skin rash, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and weight loss.
Note the fever pattern.
The history may need to be repeated
Fever - Key PE
Key examination
- Note general features and vital signs
- Check skin (rash, vesicles or nodules), eyes, temporal arteries, sinuses, teeth and oral cavity, heart (note any murmurs), lungs, abdomen (enlarged or tender liver, spleen, kidney), rectal and pelvic examination, lymph nodes (esp. cervical), urinalysis.
Fever - Key Investigation
Key investigations The basics are: •FBE •ESR/CRP •CXR and sinus films •urine MC •routine blood chemistry •LFTs •blood culture.
Other tests depend on clinical pointers (e.g. specific organisms, lymph node biopsy, HIV, tuberculosis, connective tissue auto-antibodies).
Fever - Diagnostic Tips
Diagnostic tips
•Prolonged fever is usually an uncommon presentation of a common disorder (unless recent travel, esp. to tropics).
•Fever in the elderly is sepsis until proved otherwise (esp. lungs and urinary tract).
•The diagnosis of septicaemia can be easily missed, especially in small children, the elderly and the immunocompromised.