Microscopic examination
Malaria Positive slide
Diagnosis of fever means diagnosis of infection causing it.
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Investigations are guided by clinical examination and duration of fever. |
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They may include examination of blood, urine, sputum, stool, cultures, serological tests, x ray, ultrasound etc. |
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Blood examination.
Complete blood counts including Hb, TLC, DLC, ESR-can give vital information including type and severity of infection .
Peripheral smear examination for Malaria, Filaria etc.
Platelet count can predict chances of hemorrhage in patients of dengue fever, complicated typhoid and malaria.
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Sputum examination in case of pneumonia , bronchitis can isolate organism causing chest infection.
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Urine examination including microscopic and culture for diagnosis of UTI (Urinary tract infection).
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Stool examination for diagnosis of dysentery, cholera etc.
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Serological tests can detect antibodies to organism causing infection and gives indirect evidence of infection. Typhoid (Widal test), Malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever can all be diagnosed with these tests.
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Cultures if positive give confirmatory evidence of infection by a particular organism and also provide a list of antibiotics which will be most effective against the causative agent. Cultures of blood, sputum, throat swab, pus, urine , stool can be done.
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X ray can diagnose chest infection, sinusitis, tuberculosis, bone infection.