Drug history should include specific questions about the following: Drugs known to cause fever (see Table: Some Causes of Acute Fever) Drugs that predispose to increased risk of infection (eg, corticosteroids, anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs, chemotherapeutic and antirejection drugs, other immunosuppressants) Illicit use of injection drugs (predisposing to endocarditis, hepatitis, septic pulmonary emboli, and skin and soft-tissue infections) Physical examination Physical examination begins with confirmation of fever.