Under the following three headings identify some of the micro-organisms, diseases or therapies that might cause a fever:
Infections: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inflammation: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Allergic reactions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cancer and chemotherapy treatments can also induce a fever due to tumour necrosis. Brain injuries can cause fever that is unresponsive to cooling measures and anti-pyretics. Why might that be?
Review the location of the hypothalamus.
Immunological diseases like lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis and inflammatory bowel diseases can also cause fever.
The destruction of tissues which can occur in haemolysis, surgery, myocardial infarction, crush syndrome, rhabdomyolysis and cerebral hemorrhage may induce fever.
In clinical practice see if you can identify patients who have experienced some of the diseases or treatments mentioned.
Drugs can also cause a ‘drug fever’ either as a direct consequence of the drug or as an adverse reaction to the drug (e.g. antibiotics). Discontinuation of some drugs like heroin can induce a fever.