Differential Diagnosis For Pediatric Fever: Disease Categories

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to covering the differential diagnosis for pediatric fever. This differential will be organized by disease categories.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR DISEASE CATEGORIES?

When thinking about the differential for TERM the following disease categories come to mind:

  • Infectious
  • Inflammatory
  • Iatrogenic
  • Malignancy
INFECTIOUS CAUSES OF PEDIATRIC FEVER

The following are all different types of infections that can cause a fever in children

General viral infections

Dermatological infections

HEENT Infections

Cardiac infections

Pulmonary infections

  • Upper respiratory infections (generic)
  • Croup
  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
  • Pneumonia 
  • Tuberculosis

Gastrointestinal infections

Genitourinary infections 

CNS infections 

Musculoskeletal infections:

Other

  • Bacteremia
INFLAMMATORY CAUSES OF PEDIATRIC FEVER

The following are inflammatory processes that can cause a fever in children

IATROGENIC CAUSES OF PEDIATRIC FEVER

The following are iatrogenic causes of a fever in children

  • MMR vaccine (can occur 7-12 days after receiving vaccine, generally does not last long).
MALIGNANT CAUSES OF PEDIATRIC FEVER

The following are different cancer conditions that can cause a fever in children

Page Updated: 10.08.2016