Health A-Z

Medical Content Created by the Faculty of the
Harvard Medical School

Fever

Diagnosis

In pinpointing a fever's cause, your doctor may ask about:

• Cold or flu symptoms

• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

• Burning or pain with urination

• Pain or discomfort in any part of your body

• Contact with sick people at home, work or school

• The types of food you've eaten recently

• Any recent exposure you have had to animals, including pets

• Whether you have any implanted prosthetic or mechanical device, such as an artificial joint or mechanical heart valve

• Any recent surgery, cuts or large areas of broken skin

• Chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis

• The types of medications you take

• Recent immunizations

• Recent travel, especially to a foreign country

Your doctor will take your temperature orally, in the ear canal or rectally. Depending on the suspected site of infection, your doctor may then examine your:

• Skin — For signs of rash or infection

• Lymph nodes — For swelling (a sign of nearby infection)

• Eyes — For redness or jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes)

• Mouth and throat — For signs of pharyngitis (throat infection) or a tooth abscess

• Cardiovascular system — For heart failure or infections involving the heart

• Chest — For lung infection

• Abdomen — For infections of the gallbladder, intestine or appendix

• Joints — For arthritis

• Genitals — For sexually transmitted diseases

• Nervous system — For encephalitis (brain infection) or meningitis (inflammation or infection involving the membranes covering the brain)

Depending on your symptoms and the results of your physical examination, you may need diagnostic tests, including laboratory examination of body fluids (blood, urine, stool or spinal fluid); special X-rays or scans; or a biopsy (taking a sample of body tissue for laboratory examination).