Differential Diagnosis
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Influenza or other viral illness: The patient's symptoms of fever, body aches, and sore throat are consistent with a viral illness, and the recent exposure to COVID-19 increases the likelihood of this diagnosis. However, the lack of cough and congestion makes influenza less likely, and COVID-19 is still a possibility despite the absence of these symptoms.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- COVID-19: Despite the absence of cough and congestion, COVID-19 remains a likely diagnosis due to the patient's recent exposure and symptoms of fever, body aches, and sore throat.
- Mononucleosis: The patient's sore throat and fever could be indicative of mononucleosis, especially if the patient is young and has been exposed to someone with the illness.
- Tick-borne illness (e.g., anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis): The patient's recent tick bite and symptoms of fever and body aches make a tick-borne illness a possible diagnosis, although the absence of a rash makes this less likely.
- Histoplasmosis: The patient's symptoms worsened after emptying a storage unit, which could have exposed him to histoplasma spores, making this a possible diagnosis.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Meningitis: Although the patient does not have a headache or stiff neck, meningitis is a potentially life-threatening condition that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of anyone with a fever and body aches.
- Sepsis: The patient's high fever and body aches could be indicative of sepsis, especially if the patient has a compromised immune system or an underlying medical condition.
- Lyme disease: Although the patient does not have a rash, Lyme disease can still be a deadly diagnosis if missed, especially if the patient develops neurologic or cardiac complications.
- Rare diagnoses
- Brucellosis: This zoonotic illness is rare but could be considered if the patient has been exposed to animals or animal products.
- Leptospirosis: This bacterial illness is rare but could be considered if the patient has been exposed to contaminated water or soil.
- Hantavirus: This viral illness is rare but could be considered if the patient has been exposed to rodents or their droppings while emptying the storage unit.