Transient visual impairment in a patient with psychogenic fever: A case report

Psychogenic fever is a stress-related psychosomatic disease and has been recognized clinically since the early twentieth century. It is common in adolescents or young women with acute or persistent elevation in body temperature. Psychogenic fever can be attenuated by anxiolytic, neuroleptic, or by psychotherapy.

A 22-year-old female was diagnosed with psychogenic fever and suffered from fever, headache and transient visual impairment. She had a history of being hit on the head by a rolling gate 10 days prior to visiting our hospital. All examinations showed no abnormal findings. Antipyretic drugs and antibiotics had no effect on reducing her body temperature. The patient was usually nervous at work and became extremely anxious after the injury. Within a week of psychotherapy, her temperature gradually returned to normal and her sight was restored.

Psychological stress may present with a range of symptoms, including visual impairment. Physicians should consider the diagnosis of psychogenic fever when patients present with fever of unknown origin and no other abnormal findings.