Relapsing Fever

Discussing with a professional the fever episodes that keep coming back for no clear reason helps guide the workup of recurrent fever. It refers to a pattern in which body temperature rises in episodes separated by fever-free periods.

What it is: Unlike a single fever, in recurrent fever the episodes repeat over time, which points toward looking for an underlying cause.

Common causes: It may be related to infections, inflammatory processes, or other conditions that require a workup to be identified.

Which specialist treats it? The internist and the general practitioner usually start the evaluation, with support from the infectious disease specialist when an infectious cause is suspected. When fevers keep returning, the advisable thing to do is seek an evaluation that helps clarify the origin.