Fever, Cough, Back Pain and Fatigue

Robert A. Kyle, MD, and Michael Tomasson, MD

Dr. Kyle: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Dr. Tomasson: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Copyright of the American Society of Hematology, 2006. ISSN: 1931-6860.

This case was reviewed and updated in March 2011 by Dr. Shirley Parker Levine and members of the Teaching Cases Subcommittee.

I. HISTORY

Patient Presentation

A 65-year-old woman developed progressive fatigue approximately 6 months ago and is now admitted with a sudden onset of fever, shaking chills and productive cough. She mentioned that she has had lower back pain for several years, and that it has not changed.

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