ABSTRACT
A large number of patients with febrile diseases come daily to the attention of physicians. The diagnostic evaluation involves the composition of a complete data base consisting of medical history, physical examination, and initial laboratory and imaging tests. This data base may provide pertinent information or leads for further tests and procedures. The physician must follow a planned program of examination, having in view the detection of clues pointing to a particular organ or tissue. There are some accompaniments of the febrile episode varying from one case to another: chills, sweating, convulsions, delirium, and herpetic lesions. All the clinical features may sometimes provide clues for diagnosis. The febrile episode is frequently divided into three phases: chill, plateau, and defervescence. High degrees of fever may cause complications, sometimes severe: dehydration, febrile seizures, delirium, unconsciousness and even permanent brain damage. When fever occurs in a patient already hospitalized, one must consider certain infectious and noninfectious entities.
