Fever - FAQs

1. Which doctor should I visit for fever?

You should visit your family doctor in case of fever. He may refer you to a specialist if required.

2. How is fever treated?

Fever is a symptom and not a disease by itself. Thus, the most important approach in the treatment of fever is to identify the underlying cause and treat it. In some cases like some viral infections, the fever may be self-limiting, that is, the fever will disappear once the infection is cleared.

Fever may be brought down using drugs belonging to the group antipyretics. Among these, acetaminophen (or paracetamol as it is referred to in some countries) is a safe and effective treatment for fever. Aspirin may be used in adults but should be avoided in children. Other drugs like ibuprofen and diclofenac can also be used instead of acetaminophen.

3. What is fever of unknown origin (FUO)?

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) was defined as ‘fever with a temperature of more 101°F on several occasions, lasting more than 3 weeks, which includes a hospital stay of more than 1 week with a failure to diagnose the cause’ by Petersdorf and Beeson in 1961.

Durack and Street proposed a revised system of classification of FUO. Accordingly, FUO includes:

1. Classic FUO
2. Nosocomial FUO
3. Neutropenic FUO
4. FUO associated with HIV infection

The earlier definition corresponds closely to the current definition of classic FUO.

Some of the causes include conditions like lymphoma, tuberculosis, viral infections, hospital – acquired conditions, fungal infections and infections in HIV patients.