# Chronic Low Grade Fever **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2002, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376 "2002-08-24T15:00:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CMC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CMC)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/1 "2002-08-24T15:00:44Z")
Does anyone have chronic low grade fevers? Have you isolated the cause? Medically, are they a cause for concern? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/2 "2002-08-24T17:41:00Z")
IANAD, however I did have this problem a few years back. My doctor said that it was due to an allergy. He gave me a prescription and the problem seemed to go away for a while. I then came back and I found that it was caused by the carpet in my apartment being mildewed underneath. I moved and the problems went away. However, you should consult a GP. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/3 "2002-08-24T18:04:00Z")
Have to agree… a chronic low grade fever might be any number of things. For instance, you may not have a fever at all but just have a higher than average body temperature, so for you it’s normal. Or it could be something like an allergy. Or you could have a chronic low-grade infection somewhere in your body. Or it could be a sign of a much more serious disease. In other words, you really do have to go to a doctor and have CLGF checked out to be sure if it’s a cause for concern or not. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/4 "2002-08-24T20:04:18Z")
[http://www.medvarsity.com/vmu1.2/st/lp/courses/fm/FMC\_files/FEVER.htm](http://www.medvarsity.com/vmu1.2/st/lp/courses/fm/FMC_files/FEVER.htm) Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is defined as continuous fever of al least 3 weeks duration with daily temperature elevation above 101°F (38°C) and remaining undiagnosed after one week of intensive study in the hospital, or as temperature greater than 100.5°F persisting for at least for 3 weeks in patients whom the history, physical examination, blood count, urinanalysis, and chest films fail to indicate the diagnosis Causes of fever of unknown origin: Malignant Disease Lymphoma Leukemia Solid tumors Hypernephroma Diseases of connective tissue Giant cell arteritis Still’s disease Lupus erythematosus Systemic vasculitis Temporal arteritis Infections · Tuberculosis (esp. lymph node) · Endocarditis · Rheumatic fever · Abscesses (liver, pelvic) · Malaria · Visceral leishmaniasis · Typhoid and paratyphoid fever · Urinary tract infection · Osteomyelitis Other causes Drug fever (esp. B-lactam antibiotics) Factitious fever (self induced) Thrombophlebitis Granulomatous diseases Inflammatory diseases of the bowel Sarcoidosis Pulmonary emboli Undiagnosed **And that’s just for FUO’s!**. The list of possibilities for chronic low-grade fever is even longer. See your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![CMC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CMC)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/5 "2002-08-24T21:38:54Z")
Thanks for the help. I know it could be anything and have talked to both my gynecologist and psychiatrist about it, but both of them answered very vaguely. “Well, it might be this…” But no one seemed overly concerned or suggested any further testing. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/6 "2002-08-25T15:53:44Z")
BTW, just how high is your fever? Remember, if it doesn’t go over 100.5 F, it’s not a fever, and it doesn’t matter if your “normal” temperature is 96! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CMC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CMC)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/7 "2002-08-26T11:27:24Z")
My temp during the day (when I am less than active so to speak) is under that, 99.5-100. Sometimes it rises to 101, but it rarely has gone higher than that. So I guess I am cool! Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CMC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CMC)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/8 "2002-08-26T11:32:14Z")
I forgot to add something. I am on Celexa and when I have night sweats or hot flashes (I am only 30) that usually the only time the fever goes above 100.5 Though I know Celexa can cause the above, my psychiatrist mentioned having blood tests since I have been on the drug for 3+years and the possible side effects have gotten much worse. That’s why I was curious. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/9 "2002-08-26T17:11:00Z")
I had low-grade fever for several months with slightly enlarged glands and elevated white blood cell levels. Felt ok enough to go about my life, but tired easily and just always felt a little under the weather, also caught any illness that came along. Had a tonsillectomy and now everything is fine. ---
**Author:** ![Rabail\_Altaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Rabail\_Altaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabail_Altaf)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/10 "2011-12-15T06:21:58Z")
> [@CMC](#): > > Does anyone have chronic low grade fevers? Have you isolated the cause? Medically, are they a cause for concern? yes, my husband has got low grade fever for last six months without knowing any cause. please suggest something. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/11 "2011-12-15T07:00:11Z")
Mononucleosis? ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/12 "2011-12-15T07:02:28Z")
Working up a fever is a better task for a family medicine doctor than a psychiatrist or ob/gyn (who may or may not have chosen to stay up to date with these kinds of topics that are outside their expertise). If you don’t have a primary care doc, I think this would be a good reason to get one. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chronic-low-grade-fever/125376/13 "2011-12-15T14:02:05Z")
I thought zombies were cold. Go figure.