Vincristine induced fever in a child with embryonal rhadbomyosarcoma

Febrile episodes in oncology is common are mostly of infectious etiology requiring repeated investigations and escalation of antibiotics. But, drug induced fever occur more often than we think in oncological set-up.

A 5 year old male child with rhabdomyosarcoma, developed high grade fever spikes following Vincristine monotherapy. Infective etiology work up was negative and the fever responded to corticosteroids.

He was treated with corticosteroids as premedication considering vincristine induced fever. The further courses of VCR- monotherapy were uneventful with steroids as premedication.

We present the case of vincristine induced fever in a child with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Clinician's should consider drug induced fever at appropriate conditions, to avoid leading to antibiotic resistance.