Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences
Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences

Pyrexia in a Patient with Megaloblastic Anemia: A Case Report and Literature Review

Document Type : Case Report(s)

Authors

Kevin Manuel
Somanath Padhi
Renu G’Boy Varghese

Department of Pathology, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Ganapathychettykulam, Puducherry, India

Abstract
Deficiency of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid as a cause of pyrexia, though known, is rarely reported in literature. We aimed to report a case in a 51 year old woman, who presented with fever and pancytopenia and was diagnosed to have megaloblastic anemia secondary to vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. The pyrexia subsided following the intramuscular injection of vitamin B12 and oral folic acid administration. All the other infective, inflammatory/autoimmune, endocrine causes of pyrexia were excluded by appropriate investigations. Therefore, we suggest that all physicians be aware of megaloblastic anemia as a treatable cause of pyrexia in order to avoid unnecessary costly investigations and antibiotic usage.

Keywords

Megaloblastic anemia
Pyrexia
Vitamin B12
Folic acid
Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 38, June Supplement 2013
June 2013
Pages 198-201

  • Received 30 November 2013
  • Revised 23 August 2020
  • Accepted 06 March 2019

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