Acute fever

Background

Definition

• Defined as temperature ≥38°C (100.4°F)
• >41.0°C (105°F) needs urgent treatment (damage neurons)

Acute Fever Differential Diagnosis

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Fever

Infectious

• Critical
  • Sepsis
  • PNA with respiratory failure
  • Peritonitis
  • Meningitis
  • Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis
  • Necrotizing Fasciitis
• Emergent
  • PNA
  • Peritonsillar Abscess
  • Retropharyngeal Abscess
  • Epiglottitis
  • Endocarditis
  • Pericarditis
  • Appendicitis
  • Cholecystitis
  • Diverticulitis
  • Intra-abdominal abscess
  • Pyelonephritis
  • Tubo-ovarian abscess
  • Encephalitis
  • Brain abscess
  • Cellulitis
  • Abscess
  • Malaria
• Non-emergent
  • Viral syndrome
  • Otitis Media
  • Sinusitis
  • Pharyngitis
  • Influenza
  • TB
  • UTI
  • Epididymitis
  • Prostatitis

Non-infectious

• Critical
  • AMI
  • PE
  • Intracranial Hemorrhage
  • CVA
  • NMS
  • Thyroid Storm
  • Acute Adrenal Insufficiency
  • Transfusion Rx
  • Pulmonary Edema
  • Heat Stroke
  • Malignant hyperthermia
• Emergent
  • CHF
  • Dehydration
  • Recent Seizure
  • Sickle Cell Dz
  • Transplant rejection
  • Pancreatitis
  • DVT
  • Serotonin Syndrome
• Non-emergent
  • Drug fever (except as in NMS and Serotonin Syndrome)
  • Malignancy
  • Gout
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Crohn's Disease
  • Postmyocardiotomy syndrome
  • Sweet's syndrome

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Workup

See individual notes for specific workup:

• Fever and Rash
• Fever of Unknown Origin
• Neutropenic Fever
• AIDS Fever of Unknown Origin
• Heat Emergencies
• Fever in Traveler

See Also

• Fever (Peds)
• Fever and Rash
• Fever of Unknown Origin
• Neutropenic Fever
• AIDS Fever of Unknown Origin
• Heat Emergencies
• Fever in Traveler