Deadly Degrees: Don't Discount These Diagnoses

Bennett A Myers; Gabriella Miller

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2025.11.001

Deadly Degrees: Don't Discount These Diagnoses

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2026 May;44(2):333-347. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2025.11.001. Epub 2026 Feb 19.

Authors

Bennett A Myers¹, Gabriella Miller²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: Bennett.Myers@som.umaryland.edu.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

PMID: 41895882
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2025.11.001

Abstract

Temperature is a critical vital sign that can influence workup and clinical diagnosis in the emergency department. Although temperature derangement is often environmentally mediated, it is important to consider other causes. Fever can be attributed to infections, inflammatory processes, endocrine dysfunctions, or adverse reactions to medications. Similarly, hypothermia may be the result of shock, endocrine disorder, malnutrition, or iatrogenic factors. An understanding of the impact of temperature on physiology, diagnostics, and patient outcomes enables early recognition of underlying pathologic condition and supports appropriate clinical intervention.

Keywords: Emergency medicine; Hyperthermia; Hypothermia; Temperature.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Diagnosis, Differential
Emergency Service, Hospital
Fever* / diagnosis
Fever* / etiology
Humans
Hypothermia* / diagnosis
Hypothermia* / etiology
Hypothermia* / therapy