Differentials

Bacterial sepsis

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
INVESTIGATIONS
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

No differentiating signs/symptoms between fungal and bacterial causes of sepsis.

INVESTIGATIONS

Blood or other sterile site culture positive for bacterial pathogen.

Drug-induced fever

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
INVESTIGATIONS
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

History of a causative drug use.

INVESTIGATIONS

Diagnosis is clinical and no specific tests are available. Discontinuation of the suspected drug should cause the fever to abate.

Pulmonary embolism

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
INVESTIGATIONS
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

Patients may present with pleuritic chest pain, dyspnoea, hypoxia, and hypotension.

INVESTIGATIONS

CT pulmonary angiogram shows a filling defect in the pulmonary arteries.

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