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Cotton Fever: A Condition Self-Diagnosed by IV Drug Users

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: The presentation of fever in an intravenous drug user prompts diagnostic testing targeted at identifying infectious etiologies. However, an alternate diagnosis exists in "cotton fever." While few reports describe this phenomenon in the peer-reviewed literature, the diagnosis is well recognized among the intravenous drug user community. Although its etiology is not well understood, cotton fever seems to be a self-limited, febrile response to the intravenous administration of a drug filtered through cotton. Educating clinicians regarding cotton fever may limit unnecessary hospital admissions and improve our ability to care for this population.

Source: The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine

DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2016.02.150267

Authors: A. M. Zerr, K. Ku, A. Kara

Institutions: Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis

Language: English

Topic: HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2293663353