What is the cause of my burning sensation around the eyes, forehead, and neck, with cold hands and feet, and a feeling of feverishness?

Evaluation for Possible Infection or Inflammatory Process

Your symptoms of burning sensation around the eyes, forehead, and neck combined with cold hands and feet and feeling feverish suggest you need immediate medical evaluation to rule out infection, particularly if you have fever, as these symptoms could represent early signs of systemic illness requiring urgent treatment.

Immediate Assessment Required

Your symptom constellation warrants urgent medical evaluation because:

• Burning sensations in the face and neck with systemic symptoms (feeling feverish, cold extremities) can indicate infectious or inflammatory conditions that require prompt diagnosis 1
• The combination of burning facial sensations with cold extremities and fever-like symptoms is not typical of benign conditions and needs professional assessment 1
• If you have actual measured fever (temperature >38°C/100.4°F), seek immediate medical care as this combined with your other symptoms could represent serious infection 1

Most Likely Diagnostic Considerations

Infectious/Inflammatory Causes (Priority)

• Viral or bacterial infections can present with burning sensations in facial areas, fever, and peripheral vasoconstriction causing cold extremities 1
• Arboviral infections (if you have recent travel history) characteristically cause fever, headache, and burning sensations, though typically with different distribution 1
• Rickettsial infections can cause fever, headache, and burning sensations, particularly if you have tick exposure history 1

Vascular/Autonomic Causes

• Raynaud's phenomenon with paradoxical symptoms could cause cold hands/feet, though the burning facial sensation is atypical 2
• Erythromelalgia typically causes burning in extremities (feet/hands), not face, and is triggered by heat, making this less likely for your presentation 3, 4
• Autonomic dysfunction could theoretically cause both peripheral vasoconstriction (cold extremities) and abnormal facial sensations 5

Critical Red Flags Requiring Emergency Evaluation

Seek immediate emergency care if you have any of:

• Actual measured fever >38.5°C (101.3°F) 1
• Severe headache or neck stiffness 1
• Vision changes or eye pain 1
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain 1
• Confusion or altered mental status 1
• Rash development, particularly with fever 1

Recommended Immediate Actions

Before seeing a physician:

• Measure your actual temperature with a thermometer rather than relying on feeling feverish 1
• Document when symptoms started and any potential exposures (sick contacts, travel, tick bites) 1
• Note if symptoms worsen with heat/cold or specific triggers 3, 4
• Check if you have any visible skin changes (redness, rash, lesions) 1

Do not delay medical evaluation because:

• Early diagnosis of infectious causes significantly improves outcomes 1
• Some conditions causing these symptoms can progress rapidly if untreated 1
• The combination of facial burning with systemic symptoms is not typical of benign self-limited conditions 1

What Your Doctor Will Likely Evaluate

Your physician should assess for:

• Complete vital signs including actual temperature measurement to confirm or rule out fever 1
• Examination of eyes, oral mucosa, and skin for signs of infection or inflammation 1
• Cardiovascular examination including peripheral pulses and capillary refill to assess circulation 2
• Neurological assessment to evaluate for central nervous system involvement 1
• Travel and exposure history particularly for vector-borne illnesses 1

Laboratory testing will likely include:

• Complete blood count to assess for infection or hematologic abnormalities 4
• Inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP) if inflammatory condition suspected 1
• Blood cultures if fever is documented 1

Important Caveats

• "Feeling feverish" without measured fever can occur with anxiety, hormonal changes, or early infection - actual temperature measurement is essential 1
• Cold hands and feet alone can be normal physiologic response or benign conditions like cold hypersensitivity, but combined with facial burning and fever symptoms requires evaluation 5
• Do not assume this is stress-related or benign without proper medical evaluation, as serious conditions can present with vague initial symptoms 1