HCFI Update : Differentiate Different types of Fever

Different types of fever can be differentiated clinically said Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and MTNL Perfect Health Mela.

Following are few tips:

1.              If a patient comes with fever with chills and rigors, think of malaria in north and filaria in Vidarbha region in India.

2.              In malaria, chills occur in the afternoon and in filarial, chills are in the evening.

3.              Fever with joint pains on extension often is due to Chikungunya (flexion improves the pain).

4.              Think of dengue if there is fever with itching, rash and periorbital pain.

5.              In presence of fever with single chills, think of pneumonia.

6.              Fever with sore throat, no cough, no nasal discharge: Think of streptococcal sore throat, especially in the children

7.              Fever with red angry looking throat: Think of streptococcal sore throat

8.              Fever with red epiglottis: Think of Hemophilus infection

9.              Fever with cough and/or nasal discharge: Think of common flu

10.         Fever with cough, nasal discharge, nausea and vomiting: Think of H1N1 flu

11.         Fever with toxic look, persistent fever: Look for typhoid

12.         Fever with no or low rise in pulse : Look for typhoid

13.         Fever with urinary symptoms (burning, frequency): Rule out  urinary infection

14.         Fever with high TLC (White cell count) and liver pain: Rule out liver abscess

15.         Fever with loose motions (watery, no blood, no mucous): Rule out acute gastroenteritis

16.         Jaundice that occurs after the fever is over: Its viral hepatitis

17.         If after the fever is over one feels very weak: Rule our dengue hemorrhagic fever.