Eosinophillia in drug fever

 Q: Eosinophilia is one of the essential features of "drug fever." (select one) 

A) True 

B) False 

 Answer: B

It has been estimated that about one-third of patients in the hospital develop drug fever. No absolute reason is known but it is assumed that this is due to subclinical allergic or allergic-type (idiosyncratic) reaction. Also, it can be due to an effect on thermoregulation system. 

 Although eosinophilia is common in drug fever it occurs only in one-fourth of the patients.

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Reference:

Mackowiak PA, LeMaistre CF. Drug fever: a critical appraisal of conventional concepts. An analysis of 51 episodes in two Dallas hospitals and 97 episodes reported in the English literature. Ann Intern Med 1987; 106:728.