Fever & infections
Tests doctors use when fever has no obvious cause
Fever & infections
When someone has a fever, doctors sometimes use blood tests to look for signs of infection or inflammation, and for infections such as malaria, dengue or typhoid where they are relevant. These tests don't diagnose anything on their own, and this isn't a recommendation to take any of them — a doctor decides which are relevant for you.
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
A group of blood tests that measure the number and size of the different cells in your blood.
CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
A blood test that shows how much inflammation there is in your body.
Urine Routine (Urinalysis)
A test of your urine.
Malaria Test
A blood test that looks for signs of a malaria infection.
Widal Test (Typhoid)
A blood test, widely used including in India, that looks for antibodies the body makes in response to the bacteria that cause typhoid fever.
Dengue Test
A test to find out whether you have a dengue virus infection.
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
A blood test that shows how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube. Faster settling can be a sign of inflammation in the body.
Speak with your doctor
High or persistent fever, fever with chills, a rash, severe headache or difficulty breathing needs prompt medical attention.