What may increase your risk for problems from a fever

Content provided by Healthwise

What may increase your risk for problems from a fever

Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your body's ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

Pregnancy
Age older than 60. Fever in older adults is more likely to mean a serious health problem.
History of a recent head injury
History of surgery to remove the spleen
An invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure within the past 2 weeks
Indwelling medical devices, such as artificial joints, artificial heart valves, synthetic grafts, tubes to drain body fluids (catheters), or invasive intravenous (IV) lines
Recent exposure to an infection, such as an insect or tick bite in the past 6 weeks
Recent heat exposure
Recent immunization
Surgery within the past 2 weeks
Travel outside the country or exposure to immigrants or nonnative people
Exposure to an untreated water source
Exposure to raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish

Lifestyle choices

Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
Drug abuse or withdrawal
Smoking or other tobacco use
Exposure to farm animals or birds

Medicines

New medicine (within the past 3 weeks).
Blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin, heparin, and aspirin
Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
Radiation therapy

Diseases

Cancer
Diabetes
Gonorrhea
Gout
Hemophilia
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Inherited bone disease
Kidney disease
Lupus
Lyme disease
Malnutrition or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia
Multiple sclerosis
Osteoarthritis
Osteomyelitis
Osteoporosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Septic arthritis
Septic bursitis
Sickle cell disease

Credits

Author	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Editor	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Andrew Swan, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	April 24, 2007

Last updated:	April 24, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Andrew Swan, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. By using AOL Body, you indicate that you have read, understood, and agreed to our Terms of Service, and AOL Body Advertising Policy. Read more about our content partners.