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Real members of myAIHAteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Fever

A myAIHAteam Member asked a question 💭
Calgary, AB
June 6
 · 
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A myAIHAteam Member

I have cold agglutinin. I had Rituxan in January. I get fevers often in the evening. By morning they are gone. I feel very tired and listless and that's when I know I have a fever. I never catch anything and I haven't been sick in months. It's pretty hot here in CA in the day and at night I have my air on. My blood numbers were up after the last test. I'm 84 and due for a hip replacement in August. I had my knee done during AIHA a year and a half ago and I had no problems. I was driving in 4 weeks.

June 23
A myAIHAteam Member

Sure, a fever is possible with the use of immunosuppressive drugs. It happened to me twice, the first time with the initial onset of AIHA in February of 2022 and again in the Fall of the same year when I tried to quickly and completely eliminate the Prednisolone I was taking, (not in accordance with my haematologist’s recommendations.)

Aside from those two episodes of fever I can remember, I generally don’t come down with fevers, although I WILL get sick after a prolonged sleep deficit. I mean, short of sleep over several days. Accordingly, getting enough sleep is the single most important factor in my daily life in order to feel well.

June 10
myAIHAteam

Are you wondering about fever and its connection to autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA)?

Fever can be relevant to AIHA in a few important ways. It's worth knowing what to watch for and when to act.

Fever as a symptom of AIHA

A fever can sometimes occur during a hemolytic episode — when red blood cells are being destroyed Show Full Answer

Are you wondering about fever and its connection to autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA)?

Fever can be relevant to AIHA in a few important ways. It's worth knowing what to watch for and when to act.

Fever as a symptom of AIHA

A fever can sometimes occur during a hemolytic episode — when red blood cells are being destroyed more rapidly than usual. Other symptoms that may accompany this include:

- Fatigue and weakness
- Pale or yellowed skin (jaundice)
- Dark urine
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat

Fever as a trigger

Infections that cause fever can also *trigger* or worsen AIHA flares, since the immune system becomes more active during illness.

When to seek help

A fever should never be ignored when living with AIHA. It's important to contact a doctor promptly if a fever develops, especially if other AIHA symptoms worsen at the same time. This could signal a hemolytic crisis, which needs urgent medical attention.

If on immunosuppressants

Many AIHA treatments suppress the immune system (like corticosteroids or rituximab). This means the body may be less able to fight infections, making even a moderate fever a reason to reach out to a healthcare provider quickly.

Always err on the side of caution and check in with your care team when a fever appears.

June 6

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