A 33-year-old man was referred to our hospital with chief complaints of
fever,
dizziness, and
headache. Although he had recurring
fever and
dizziness for 7 months, neurological examination, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, electrocardiograms, and blood tests were normal. He was diagnosed with functional
hyperthermia, cervical
vertigo, and
tension headache and was treated with oral medication and
physical therapy.
After treatment, the
dizziness and
headache resolved; however, the
fever and anxiety did not. During follow-up, he noticed differing results from different electronic
thermometers. The physician decided to use an accurate analog thermometer, a
gallium thermometer, in combination with the other
thermometers. The results differed significantly among the
thermometers, and the electronic thermometer readings were found to be inappropriately high. The physician made a diagnosis of pseudo-
fever, and the patient recognized that the
gallium thermometer's results were the most accurate reflection of his physical condition, resolving his anxiety.