Acute fever

(Redirected from Fever)

Background

Definition

  • Defined as temperature ≥38°C (100.4°F).
  • Peripheral temperature is not clinically accurate and central measurements are the preferred means of determining fever.
    • Rectal or oral
    • Rectal temperatures should not be performed in neutropenic patients[1]

Clinical Features

  • Fever directly causes an increase in:[2]
    • Heart rate: 10 beats per minute per degree centigrade
    • Respiratory rate

Differential Diagnosis

Fever

Infectious

Non-infectious

DDx by Heart Rate

Every 0.55°C increase in temperature should → increase HR by ~10BPM

Evaluation

See individual notes for specific workup:

Management

Disposition

  • Depends on underlying etiology

See Also

References

  1. Niven DJ, Gaudet JE, Laupland KB, Mrklas KJ, Roberts DJ, Stelfox HT. Accuracy of Peripheral Thermometers for Estimating Temperature: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2015;163(10):768-777. doi:10.7326/M15-1150.
  2. Davies P, Maconochie I. The relationship between body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate in children. Emerg Med J. 2009 Sep;26(9):641-3. doi: 10.1136/emj.2008.061598.