Suffering From High Grade Fever. What Test Should Be Done And Medicine To Be Taken?

Posted on Sun, 30 Sep 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 Answered on

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : My mother is suffering from fever of high grade 105 F for four days. what test should be done and medicine to be taken. when should the test for typhoid and malaria to be done. She is 58 years old

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (5 hours later)

Hi XXXXXX
Thank you for contacting Healthcare magic.
For evaluation of fever, the following investigations should be done:
Complete urine examination
Complete blood count
Malarial parasite
If she has cough, Chest X XXXXXX should also be done.
If above tests are negative and fever persisting, blood culture may be done, which can diagnose typhoid also.
As of now, paracetamol 500 mg can be given at 4-6 hourly intervals.
Antibiotics may be required depending on the clinical examination and investigation reports.
Please get back for any follow up queries.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Medicine) DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (3 minutes later)

on which day test for typhoid and malaria to be done At present she is taking paracetamol and Taxim-o 200mg

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (9 minutes later)

Test for malaria can be done now. However, test for typhoid can be done if fever persists beyond a week (provided there are no gastrointestinal symptoms).
If she has abdominal pain, loose stools, vomiting, etc, test for typhoid may be done now.
Within a week, blood culture is the best and after a week, Widal test is the best to diagnose typhoid.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar