Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Practice Interactive case report

Fever of unknown origin: case progression

BMJ 2006; 333 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38950.394745.68 (Published 07 September 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;333:541

Rapid Response:

Erythema marginatum ?

'A rash not evident during ward rounds'

A rash that comes and goes in the early stages of rheumatic fever.
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-2140471290

I would seriously consider managing this as a case of rheumatic
fever. Plenty of criteria have been met, we just need proof of
streptococcal infection.
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-
1294991341&linkID=29747&cook=yes

I'd ask the microbiologist to see if the technicians could do another
ASOT titre today (or other specific test) or send serum by courier to a
lab that could.

A combination of penicillin and prednisolone wouldn't be a bad start
today, and see if the CRP has fallen tomorrow.

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

15 September 2006
Stephen J Katona
GP
OOH, locum