Where infections commonly start

Fever can be one of the first symptoms of an infection somewhere in your body. It is a sign that your immune system is trying to fight off the infection. A fever in itself is not usually dangerous, but the infection that causes it can be. It is very important to tell your doctor if you develop a fever so they can treat the infection that is causing it.

An infection can occur anywhere in your body. The most common places are

• The mouth and throat
• The skin
• The lungs
• The kidneys and bladder, especially if you have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder
• Where a drip or central line goes in (cannula sites and PICC line sites)
• Wounds and where wound drains go in
• Ulcerating tumours

Other less common places are the

• Liver and abdomen
• Gullet (oesophagus)
• Vagina and anus
• Brain and spinal cord