1. The Common Cold Slideshow Pictures
2. Slideshow: Treating Your Child's Cold or Fever
3. Take the Cold & Flu Quiz

Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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A doctor will ask many questions in an effort to find the source of the fever:

• When the fever started
• What other symptoms occurred
• The person's immunization status
• Any recent travel
• Any exposures to sick people at work or at home
• Any medications taken or illicit drug use
• Exposure to animals
• Sexual history
• Recent surgeries
• Any underlying medical illnesses
• Allergies

A very thorough physical examination will be done in an effort to find the source of the fever. After the history is taken and physical examination is performed, the physician may know the cause of the fever. If the physician is not sure at this point, he or she may order certain tests to help make the diagnosis. Examples of diagnostic tests that may be ordered are

• a blood test to measure the infection count (white blood cells),
• strep throat culture,
• sputum sample,
• blood culture,
• urine analysis,
• urine culture,
• stool sample,
• spinal tap (lumbar puncture),
• X-ray films or CT scan,
• liver function tests,
• thyroid function tests.

Based on the results of these tests, the physician usually will be able to find the cause of the fever. More specific tests including imaging tests may be done if needed if the initial tests do not suggest a cause for the fevers.

FUOs are challenging, and often specialists need to be involved to help determine what further diagnostic testing may be needed (for example, endoscopy, PET scanning, echocardiography, or radionucleotide studies).

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