Vodovar et al listed criteria for drug fever (DF) based on criteria proposed by Young et al and modified by others (Pleasants et al, Johnson and Cunha).
Criteria for drug fever:
(1) an oral or rectal body temperature > 38°C
(2) onset of fever coincident with drug administration
(3) disappearance of fever within 72 hours after drug discontinuation without any other intervention
(4) no recurrence of fever for at least 72 hours after normalization of temperature (without repeat drug exposure or onset of other cause of fever)
(5) absence of skin reaction
(6) exclusions
(6a) absence of other causes of fever as determined by physical examination and appropriate biological and microbiological tests (absence of infection, etc)
(6b) absence of any underlying condition causing fever by itself
(6c) absence of other differential diagnoses for hyperthermia
where:
• Some of the conditions listed for hyperthermia are drug-related (like antipsychotics and malignant hyperthermia).
• The "absence of skin reactions" is a debated item.
• These criteria might perform poorly for drug fever mixed with another cause of fever.
• Drug fever may be masked by antipyretics or other causes.
