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PubMed2005

Patient education and access of ESRD patients to renal replacement therapies beyond in-center hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Nephrologists report that patients' choice should play an important role in the selection of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In the United States, kidney transplant rates remain low and <10% of patients utilize home dialysis therapies. This study examined the effect of pre-ESRD processes on the selection of RRT among incident ESRD patients. METHODS: Using surveys, data were collected for all patients admitted to 229 dialysis units in ESRD Network 18 between April 1, 2002 and May 31, 2002. A total of 1365 patients began chronic dialysis and 1193 facility (87%) and 428 patient (31%) surveys were returned. RESULTS: Substantial proportions of patients were unaware of their kidney disease (36%) or were not seeing a nephrologist (36%) until <4 months before first dialysis. The presentation of treatment options was delayed (48% either after or < 1 month before the first dialysis). The majority of ESRD patients were not presented with chronic peritoneal dialysis, home hemodialysis, or renal transplantation as options (66%, 88%, and 74%, respectively). Using multivariate analyses, variables significantly associated with selection of chronic peritoneal dialysis as dialysis modality were the probability of chronic peritoneal dialysis being presented as a treatment option and the time spent on patient education. CONCLUSION: An incomplete presentation of treatment options is an important reason for under-utilization of home dialysis therapies and probably delays access to transplantation. Improvements in and reimbursement for pre-ESRD education could provide an equal and timely access for all medically suitable patients to various RRTs.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Incidence, etiology, and impact of Fever in patients with acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Fever, as a significant event, has not been studied systematically in patients with acute pancreatitis. We studied prospectively incidence, etiology, and impact of fever on the management and outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis. METHODS: All consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were studied for the development of fever, its etiology, and its influence on the management and outcome of acute pancreatitis. Fever was considered to be significant, if the temperature was >38 degrees C and persisted for >2 days. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients (51 males; mean age 41 years) with acute pancreatitis were included between January 1997 and June 1998. The causes of pancreatitis were gallstones in 48%, alcohol in 28%, and others in 24% of the patients. 20 patients had pancreatic necrosis, and 45 (60%) developed fever during the course of pancreatitis. The etiology of fever was infected pancreatic necrosis in 8 (18%), pancreatitis per se in 10 (22%), cholangitis in 4 (9%), nonpancreatic infections in 17 (38%), and an undetermined one in 6 (13%) patients. Of the 45 patients with fever, 17 had pancreatic necrosis as compared with only 3 of 30 patients who did not develop fever (p < 0.05). Patients with fever had a higher pancreatitis-related mortality than those without fever (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: 60% of the patients with acute pancreatitis developed fever. Infected pancreatic necrosis was the cause of fever in 18% of the patients and not in the majority, i.e., 82% of the patients. The mortality rate was higher in patients who developed fever than in those who did not.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Fever of central origin during stroke].

INTRODUCTION: Fever appears in a fourth of stroke, approximately. Its origins, (the most of them are infectious) are unknown in a minority of the cases. Some hypotheses indicate that central mechanisms like hypothalamic lesions or segregation of endogenous pyrogens may be implicated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of central fever during stroke and to notice if there are clinical differences between infectious and central origins of the fever. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 103 patients were evaluated prospectively, if someone had fever, an investigation about an infectious origin was made. We divided the fever patients into two groups: "infectious fever" and "fever without infection documented" and we analyzed the clinical differences between them. RESULTS: 23% of the patients had fever, 33% without infection documented. This last group had earlier fevers. They had more clinical severity and more mortality. The fever was higher and it didn't response to the antipyretic treatment also. The others parameters didn't show any difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The patients with fever without infection documented ( probably fever of central origin)had a defined model with its own characteristics, in a different way from infectious fever.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk of travel-associated typhoid and paratyphoid fevers in various regions.

BACKGROUND: Although enteric fever (typhoid and paratyphoid fevers) is a major global public health problem, comparable data on the risks of contracting travel-associated enteric fever in various regions of the world are scarce. METHODS: From the Swedish database on notifiable communicable diseases, we retrieved all case records from 1997 to 2003 on typhoid and paratyphoid fevers. The data set was compared with data on travel patterns obtained from a comprehensive travel database with information from interviews with more than 16,000 Swedish residents with recent overnight travel outside Sweden. RESULTS: The overall risk of being notified with enteric fever after travel was 0.42 in 100,000 travelers. The highest risk for typhoid fever was seen in travelers from India and neighboring countries (41.7 in 100,000), the Middle East (5.91 in 100,000), and Central Africa (3.33 in 100,000), whereas the risk was comparatively low in East Asia (0.24 in 100,000). Almost the same risk areas stood out for paratyphoid fever: India and neighbors (37.5 in 100,000), the Middle East (3.64 in 100,000), and East Africa (3.33 in 100,000). The epidemiology of paratyphoid fever was considerably affected by a large outbreak of paratyphoid B in a Turkish tourist resort in 1999. The youngest children were at highest risk for typhoid fever (odds ratio 44.2), whereas youths ages 7 to 18 years were at highest risk for paratyphoid fever (odds ratio 9.7). CONCLUSIONS: Detailed risk data for enteric fever after travel could form the basis for travel advice. Vaccination against typhoid fever should always be considered for travelers to the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Africa but should not routinely be given to travelers to the Malay Peninsula.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Self-limited idiopathic fever. A study of twenty cases (author's transl)].

Out of 23 cases with a final diagnosis of idiopathic fever, 20 had self-limited fever with complete resolution. Comparing the cases of self-limited fever with other groups of patients with fever of unknown origin, the following differences were apparent: compared with tumoral and collagen diseases, self-limited fever occurred more frequently below age 40, the difference being significant (p less than 0.01). Chills occurred more frequently in self-limited fever than in tumoral and collagen diseases, while the incidence was similar in infectious diseases. Infectious, tumoral and collagen diseases presented with significantly greater weight loss (p less than 0.01) than self-limited fever. A greater incidence of hepatosplenomegaly was noted in self-limited fever than in infectious diseases. Hemoglobin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were significantly higher in self-limited fever than in the other illnesses. The NBT test was positive, with a reduction superior to 30% in the six cases in whom it was performed. In nine cases various invasive procedures were utilized: radiology, biopsy, laparoscopy (two cases), and laparotomy (one case). The data on the present series of self-limited idiopathic fever support an infectious origin of the disease because of the following: absence of an age difference with the group with a demonstrated infectious cause; fever of less than two months duration in most cases; presence of chills and less incidence of weight loss, anemia, and elevated ESR in relation to the other groups of fever of unknown origin; a positive NBT test; and spontaneous evolution to complete resolution of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Viral haemorrhagic fever].

Viral haemorrhagic fever denotes various kinds of febrile illness caused by certain viruses which often presents with bleeding tendency and occasionally shock. Out of these, the four maladies, Lassa fever, Ebola haemorrhagic fever, Marburg haemorrhagic fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever which are endemically present in Africa or eastern Europe, are known to be such diseases with high man-to-man communicability. These four haemorrhagic fevers are, therefore, designated as special conditions requiring isolation during the period when the infected patients are shedding the viruses, not only in Japan but also in many other countries. We have so far only one such case of Lassa fever who returned to Japan from Sierra Leone in 1987. Some haemorrhagic fevers including dengue (haemorrhagic) fever and hantavirus infections (e.g. haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) are not known to be man-to-man transmissible and requiring no isolation. We have a number of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fevers here in Japan today among imported febrile cases from tropical or subtropical countries. Every physician should take viral haemorrhagic fevers into consideration as one of the possibilities in diagnosing patients returning from overseas travel.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The effect of naproxen on fever in patients with advanced gynecologic malignancies.

The antipyretic action of naproxen has been reported as sufficiently selective for neoplasm-related fever such that the use of this agent has been recommended to distinguish neoplastic from infectious fever. The antipyretic effect of naproxen was evaluated in gynecologic oncology patients with advanced pelvic malignancies and fever without obvious source of infection (suspected neoplastic fever). Naproxen (250 mg orally every 8 hr) was given to 12 patients with (i) a daily temperature greater than 38.3 degrees C, (ii) fever for at least 3 days, (iii) no evidence of infection on physical exam, (iv) negative results of blood and urine cultures, and (v) a chest roentgenogram negative for pneumonia. Ten of the 12 patients initially received a minimum of 3 days of empiric antibiotic therapy without resolution of fever. Within 24 hr of starting naproxen therapy, 10 patients' (83%) fever responded: Eight patients (80%) had a complete lysis of fever and two had partial lysis (20%). Temperature response was accompanied by subjective improvement in patient malaise and fatigue. Naproxen therapy was continued for 5-7 days in these patients, and chemotherapy was administered to those patients scheduled to receive it. Two patients did not respond to naproxen therapy in 24 hr; thus, it was stopped and the fever workup was continued. Of these two patients, one was eventually diagnosed with bacteremia after multiple negative blood cultures and initially no response to antibiotics. Naproxen is clinically useful in the palliation of fever-related symptoms in gynecologic oncology patients with suspected neoplastic fever. Naproxen may also allow the limitation of extensive fever workups and prolonged empiric antibiotic therapy in these patients, and prevent delays in systemic therapy or supportive care.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Prolonged fever in children. Retrospective study of 67 cases].

BACKGROUND: The first problem to face in prolonged fever is its etiologic diagnosis. Its incidence varies between 0,5 to 3% of all paediatric hospital-stay. Precise diagnosis need an extensive questionnary, complete physical examination and an algorithm of complementary exams. PURPOSE: To precise the epidemiologic profile and causes of prolonged fever in a children. POPULATION AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 67 children between two and 15 years old admitted in the general paediatrics department of the Fattouma Bourguiba university hospital in Monastir (Tunisia), for prolonged fever between 1(st) January 1988 and 31 December 1998. RESULTS: The incidence of prolonged fever was 1,02%. The mean age was seven years with female predominance. The mean fever duration was 30 days. Fever was isolated in 23,9% of cases. Fever was associated to rheumatic or respiratory signs in respectively 26,9% and 20,9% of cases. Hospital-stay was of 11 days in 50% of cases. Prominent causes were dominated by infectious diseases (56,7%) with predominance of localized infections, followed by inflammatory diseases (20,9%) with predominance of rheumatic fever and neoplasms (3%). Fever remained of unknown origin was seen in 19,4% of cases. CONCLUSION: Prolonged fever is still dominated by infectious and inflammatory diseases and depend on local epidemiological particularities. In fact we noted in this study the relative high-frequency of visceral leishmaniasis, complicated pulmonary hydatic cyst and rheumatic fever. The diagnosis approach should be based on complementary exams of first and second stage because of their high number and cost. Prognosis of fever of unknown origin is often favorable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Frequency of postoperative fever in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiovascular surgery and associated risk factors].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of postoperative fever in children with congenital heart disease who undergo cardiovascular surgery, and the risk factors associated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, 100 children under the age of less than 9 years were followed-up during hospitalization in order to detect fever after cardiac surgery. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative variables were assessed to determine their relationship with postoperative fever. The cases were patients who developed fever. Multivariate analysis was used, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. RESULTS: The frequency of postoperative fever was 46%. Fever appeared within 24 hours of surgery in 56% cases. In 32/46 (70%) cases, fever remitted within 72 hours. Fever was more common in patients who underwent open-heart surgery than in those treated with a closed technique (28 vs. 18, P = 0.045). Prolonged extracorporeal circulation (OR = 1.024; 95% CI, 1.004-1.045), aortic cross-clamping (OR = 2.83; 95% CI, 1.21-6.61) and postoperative infections (OR = 24.07; 95% CI, 7.2-75.0) were the risk factors associated with the development of postoperative fever. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative fever is common in children with congenital heart disease. The identification of risk factors associated to the development of fever should help clinicians to identify the cause of fever in this group of patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Role of fever in disease.

Infection, trauma, and injury result in a stereotypical response that includes loss of food appetite, increased sleepiness, muscle aches, and fever. For thousands of years fever was considered a protective response, and fevers were induced by physicians to combat certain infections. But with the advent of antipyretic drugs, physicians started to reduce fevers, and fever therapy was virtually abandoned. As a result of (1) studies on the evolution of fever, (2) further understanding of just how tightly the process of fever is regulated, and (3) detailed studies on how fever affects host morbidity and mortality, the view of fever as a host defense response has reemerged. However, data indicate that not all fevers are protective and that high fevers are maladaptive. These issues are discussed in the context of the evolution of host defense responses versus modern medical technology. In short, we speculate that patients who would not have survived severe sepsis in the past are now being kept alive and that the occasionally high fevers seen in these patients may be maladaptive.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The CNS site of glucocorticoid negative feedback during LPS- and psychological stress-induced fevers.

Glucocorticoids exert negative feedback in the anterior hypothalamus (AH) during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fevers, but the central location of their negative feedback during psychological stress-induced fever has not been determined. To confirm that glucocorticoid modulation of LPS fever occurs in the AH, adrenalectomized animals were injected intrahypothalamically with either 0.25 ng of corticosterone or vehicle followed by 50 micrograms/kg LPS intraperitoneally. Animals pretreated with corticosterone developed significantly smaller fevers (P = 0.007) than animals given vehicle. To determine if glucocorticoid modulation during psychological stress-induced fever may occur in the hippocampus, the fornix was transected to block hippocampal communication with the AH. This resulted in significantly larger psychological stress-induced fevers (P = 0.02) compared with sham-operated animals. There were no differences between these groups for LPS-induced fevers (P = 0.92). To determine where in the hippocampus glucocorticoids might exert their negative feedback during psychological stress, rats were microinjected with either 1 ng RU-38486 (a type II glucocorticoid receptor antagonist) or vehicle into the dentate gyrus prior to exposure to the open field. There were no differences between the psychological stress-induced fevers of the RU-38486- and vehicle-injected groups, supporting the hypothesis that these fevers are modulated elsewhere in the hippocampus. Our data support the hypothesis that glucocorticoids modulate LPS-induced fever in the AH and do not involve the hippocampus, and that psychological stress-induced fevers are modulated by neural connections between the hippocampus and the hypothalamus. The precise sites of action of glucocorticoid negative feedback on stress-induced fevers in the hippocampus (or other brain regions) are not yet known.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1994

Causes of fever and pulmonary densities in patients with clinical manifestations of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia, a leading cause of sepsis in patients with acute respiratory failure, is difficult to distinguish clinically from other processes affecting patients receiving mechanical ventilation. We conducted a prospective study of patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia to identify the causes of fever and densities on chest radiographs and to evaluate the diagnostic yield and efficiency of tests used alone and in combination. METHODS: The 50 patients entered into the study underwent a systematic diagnostic protocol designed to identify all potential causes of fever and pulmonary densities. Diagnoses responsible for fever were established by strict diagnostic criteria for 45 of the 50 patients. The prevalence of specific conditions and diagnostic yield of individual tests were used to formulate a simplified diagnostic protocol. RESULTS: The diagnostic protocol identified 78 causes of fever (median 2 per patient). Infections were the leading causes of fever and pulmonary densities. Of the 45 patients with fever, 37 had one or more infections identified (67 sources). Most infections (84 percent) were one of four types:pneumonia, sinusitis, catheter-related infection, or urinary tract infection. Ventilator-associated pneumonia occurred in only 42 percent. All but nine infections (87 percent) were directly or indirectly related to insertion of a catheter or a tube. Concomitant infections were frequent (62 percent), particularly in patients with sinusitis (100 percent), catheter-related infections (93 percent), and pneumonia (74 percent). Of concomitant infections, 60 percent were caused by a different pathogen. Noninfectious causes of fever were more common in the 22 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Histologically proved pulmonary fibroproliferation was the only cause of fever in 25 percent of patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Radiographic densities were caused by an infection in only 20 patients (19 pneumonia, 1 empyema). In more than 50 percent of the 25 patients without adult respiratory distress syndrome, congestive heart failure, and atelectasis were the sole causes of pulmonary densities, and fever always originated from an extrapulmonary site of infection. Used in combination, bronchoscopy with protected sampling, computed tomographic scan of the sinuses, and cultures of maxillary sinus aspirate, central intravenous or arterial lines, urine, and blood identified 58 of the 78 sources of fever (74 percent). CONCLUSIONS: The observations in this study document the complex nature of acute respiratory failure and fever and underscore the need for accuracy in diagnosis. The frequent occurrence of multiple infectious and noninfectious processes justifies a systematic search for source of fever, using a comprehensive diagnostic protocol. A simplified diagnostic protocol was devised based on the diagnostic value of individual tests.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Fever in acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Although fever has been reported in several case series of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), the extent to which fever may be caused by PE, and not associated disease, has not been adequately sorted out. Clarification of the frequency and severity of fever in acute PE may assist in achieving an accurate clinical impression, and perhaps avoid an inadvertent exclusion of the diagnosis. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the extent to which fever is caused by acute PE. METHODS: Patients participated in the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED). Temperature was evaluated among patients with angiographically proven PE. A determination of whether other causes of fever were present was based on a retrospective analysis of discharge summaries, PIOPED summaries, and a computerized list of all discharge diagnoses. RESULTS: Among patients with PE and no other source of fever, fever was present in 43 of 311 patients (14%). Fever in patients with pulmonary hemorrhage or infarction was not more frequent than among those with no pulmonary hemorrhage or infarction, 39 of 267 patients (15%) vs 4 of 44 patients (9%; not significant). Clinical evidence of deep venous thrombosis was often present in patients with PE and otherwise unexplained fever. CONCLUSION: Low-grade fever is not uncommon in PE, and high fever, although rare, may occur. Fever need not be accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage or infarction.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Diagnostic usefulness of Vi-indirect fluorescent antibody test(Vi-IFAT) for typhoid fever--a prospective study.

Although the confirmative diagnosis of typhoid fever is by culture of the causative organism, usually from blood, a serological test is still necessary to provide a more rapid method of diagnosis. The indirect fluorescent antibody test, using a Salmonella typhi Vi antigen and a FITC-conjugated rabbit anti-human polyvalent immunoglobulin, was evaluated for the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Serum specimens were collected from patients with febrile diseases on admission. Of the 32 patients with titers of 1:64 or more, 22 were confirmed to have typhoid fever by blood culture and 7 had fever of undetermined origin that was considered to be typhoid fever clinically. Three patients were diagnosed to have salmonellosis other than typhoid fever. Of the 121 patients with titers of 1:32 or less, 105 patients had non-typhoidal febrile disease, 15 patients had fever of undetermined origin, and one patient was confirmed to have typhoid fever by blood culture. When a Vi antibody titer of 1:64 or more was taken as serological evidence for the diagnosis of typhoid fever, the sensitivity and specificity were 95.7% and 97.2%, respectively. The incidence of positive test results following fever onset was 70.0% within 1 week of fever onset, 88.9% from 1 to 2 weeks, and 100% after 2 weeks. In conclusion, the Vi-indirect fluorescent antibody test(Vi-IFAT) can be employed as a useful serologic test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2005

Fever is associated with third ventricular shift after intracerebral hemorrhage: pathophysiologic implications.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown the detrimental effect of increased temperature on brain injury. Fever is common after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The term 'central fever' is often used when no cause is identified. AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the correlation of fever with third ventricular shift in 61 patients with ICH and hypothesize about the mechanism of fever. SETTING: Neurointensive Care Unit. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 1999 to April 2000, data from 61 patients with ICH were prospectively collected including maximum temperature (Tmax) and fever (T> 37.5 degrees C) at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, ICH volume, and third ventricular shift. Outcome measures included discharge mortality, 3-month National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Barthel Index (BI). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Spearman correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney test, and logistic regression were used to assess relationships. RESULTS: Fifty-six per cent of patients had fever in the first 24 hours and 53% for at least two consecutive days. There was a correlation between ICH volume and Tmax at 24 hours (P =0.04) and 72 hours (P =0.03) and fever at 24 hours (P =0.039) and 72 hours (P =0.036). Tmax at 72 hours correlated with third ventricular shift (P =0.01). Those with shift were more likely to have fever within the first 72 hours (P =0.049) and worse outcome. Fever at 72 hours was associated with a higher discharge mortality (P =0.046) and trend of a worse 3-month NIHSS score (P =0.06). CONCLUSION: Fever is common after ICH and correlates with ICH volume and third ventricular shift suggesting a role of hypothalamic compression in "central fever." There was a trend towards a worse outcome with fever.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Symptomatic intermittent fever of inflammatory diseases].

Intermittent fever has a wide variety of causes such as infectious, cancers, or inflammatory disease. Intermittent fever is sometimes a diagnostic challenge when fever appears as the first and isolated sign of the disease. Adult onset Still disease and juvenile chronic arthritis are mainly the most common cause of intermittent inflammatory fever. Some frequent diseases gives intermittent fever in few cases like ankylosing spondylitis, pulmonary embolism, sarcoidosis or Crohn's disease. Some rare inflammatory disease gives typical intermittent fever like genetic periodic fever. Other rare diseases give sometimes intermittent fever like vasculitis, polychondritis, Castleman disease, etc. Drug fever and factitious fever are other classical causes of intermittent fever. Diagnosis of inflammatory intermittent fever is frequently based on the clinical course but some biological tests and computerized tomographic scans are worthwhile tools. Follow-up of undiagnosed cases is needed.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1992

Fever phobia: the pediatrician's contribution.

Fever phobia, the exaggerated fear of fever, is found among parents of all socioeconomic classes. Pediatricians may inadvertently contribute to fever phobia if their practice and educational message are incongruent. To determine how pediatricians treat fever in their practice, the authors sent a self-administered questionnaire to a sample of members of the American Academy of Pediatrics who lived in Massachusetts. Pediatricians were asked (1) how dangerous they believed fever to be, (2) how they treated fever in their practice, and (3) what types of educational information they gave families regarding fever. One-hundred seventy-two of the 234 (74%) eligible pediatricians returned the survey; 151 were completed. Sixty percent of the respondents were male, and 75% practiced some form of primary or episodic care. Ninety-eight (65%) believed that fever itself could be dangerous to a child, with 58 (60%) of the original 98 citing that a temperature of 104 degrees F or greater could lead to complications such as seizures, brain damage, or death. In practice, 108 (72%) always or often recommended treatment to reduce fever and 96 (89%) of the 108 did so at temperatures between 101 degrees and 102 degrees F. One hundred thirty-one (88%) respondents agreed that a sleeping child with fever should be left undisturbed. One hundred twenty-one (80%) pediatricians always or often tried to educate families about fever during sick-child visits, yet only 38% addressed the dangers of fever.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child↗
PubMed1996

Benign fever following vaginal delivery.

BACKGROUND: In patients with fever following vaginal delivery, physicians must differentiate benign self-resolving fevers from fevers with more serious causes, especially endometritis. To help differentiate these clinical entities, we explored the characteristics and risk factors for benign "single-day" postpartum fever. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2137 vaginal deliveries. Patients were randomly selected from the 25,687 vaginal deliveries that took place between 1979 and 1992 at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The data were analyzed using odds ratios and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Benign fevers occurred in 3.3% of patients, while endometritis was diagnosed in 1.6%. After controlling for confounding variables, two clinical factors were independently associated with single-day fever: primiparity (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0 to 5.7) and use of a uterine pressure catheter (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5 to 3.7). These factors were not associated with endometritis. The first postpartum temperature elevation ( > or = 38.0 degrees C) occurred earlier in patients with single-day fever than in patients with endometritis (4.0 +/- 4.6 hours postpartum vs 30.2 +/- 27.0 hours postpartum, P < .001). The maximum temperature elevation was lower, on average, in patients with single-day fever than in patients with endometritis (38.2 degrees +/- 0.2 degrees C vs 38.9 degrees +/- 0.6 degrees C, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Single-day fever was more likely to occur in primiparous women and in women who were monitored with a uterine pressure catheter. Most women with benign single-day fevers had early low-grade fevers, whereas women with endometritis had higher fevers that occurred later in the postpartum period.

Adult↗