Different fevers can be differentiated clinically. Following are few tips:

1. If a patient comes with fever with chills and rigors, think of Malaria in north and filaria in Vidarbha region in India.
2. In malaria, chills occur in the afternoon; in filaria, the chills occur in the evening.
3. Fever with joint pains on extension is often due to Chikungunya (flexion improves the pain)
4. Think of dengue if there is fever with itching, rash and periorbital pain.
5. In presence of fever with single chills think of pneumonia.
6. Fever with sore throat, no cough, no nasal discharge: Think of streptococcal sore throat, especially in the children.
7. Fever with red angry–looking throat: Think of streptococcal sore throat
8. Fever with red epiglottis: Think of Hemophilus infection
9. Fever with cough and or nasal discharge: Think of common flu
10. Fever with cough, nasal discharge, nausea and vomiting: Think of H1N1 flu
11. Fever with toxic look, persistent fever: Look for typhoid
12. Fever with no or low rise in pulse: Look for typhoid
13. Fever with urinary symptoms (burning, frequency): Rule out urinary infection.
14. Fever with high TLC (white cell count) and liver pain: Rule out liver abscess
15. Fever with watery diarrhea, with no blood or mucous: Rule out acute gastroenteritis
16. After the fever is over, jaundice appears: This is viral hepatitis
17. After the fever subsides, one feels very weak: Rule our dengue hemorrhagic fever.