Symptom Combination

Chest Pain and Fever: Causes, Conditions & When to See a Doctor

Chest pain with fever indicates pericarditis, pleuritis from pneumonia, myocarditis, or sepsis with cardiac involvement. Pericarditis is the most common cause and improves with anti-inflammatory treatment, but myocarditis — which can rapidly progress to cardiogenic shock — must be excluded urgently.

→ Chest Pain Overview → Fever Overview

Possible Causes of Chest Pain and Fever

Conditions that commonly cause both symptoms together

1Pericarditis (sharp pleuritic chest pain relieved by leaning forward)
2Pneumonia with pleuritic chest pain and fever
3Myocarditis with chest pain, fever, and new ECG changes
4Endocarditis with septic emboli causing pleuritic events
5COVID-19-related myopericarditis

Emergency Red Flags

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these

Persistent fever > 38.5°C with new ST elevation (pericarditis vs. STEMI)

Myocarditis: fever + chest pain + elevated troponin in young patient

Friction rub on auscultation

Hemodynamic instability with fever and chest pain (septic myocarditis)

Recent viral illness (URI, flu) followed by fever + chest pain

When to See a Doctor

Schedule a medical consultation if you notice these signs

ECG immediately to differentiate pericarditis ST elevation from STEMI

Troponin to exclude myocarditis

Echo to assess pericardial effusion and cardiac function

NSAIDs + colchicine for confirmed pericarditis; avoid in myocarditis

Conditions That Cause Both Chest Pain and Fever

9 conditions are associated with this symptom combination

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses and resolves in 2â€“3 weeks. Chronic bronchitis is a form of COPD caused by long-term irritation, often from smoking.

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs (alveoli) in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and ranges from mild to life-threatening.

Infective Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is an infection of the heart valve lining by bacteria (usually Streptococcus or Staphylococcus), causing fever, heart murmur, and embolic complications. IV drug use and dental procedures are key risk factors.

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart), causing sharp, pleuritic chest pain that improves when leaning forward. Viral infections are the most common cause; NSAIDs are the primary treatment.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs with symptoms of chronic cough, night sweats, fever, and weight loss. Drug-resistant TB is a growing global health threat requiring prolonged combination antibiotic therapy.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organ systems including the skin, joints, kidneys, and nervous system. The characteristic butterfly rash, joint pain, and kidney disease are hallmarks; flares are managed with immunosuppressants.

A lung abscess is a pus-filled cavity in the lung parenchyma, usually caused by aspiration of oral bacteria in patients with impaired consciousness. It presents with productive cough, fever, and weight loss; prolonged antibiotics are the primary treatment.

Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleural membranes surrounding the lungs, causing sharp chest pain that worsens when breathing deeply or coughing.

Explore Individual Symptoms

In-depth pages for each symptom in this combination

Chest Pain — Full Overview Causes Treatment When to See a Doctor Related Questions

Fever — Full Overview Causes Treatment When to See a Doctor Related Questions

Medical Questions About Chest Pain and Fever

Evidence-based answers from medical experts

Early Signs of Bronchitis How to Manage Bronchitis Early Signs of Pneumonia How to Manage Pneumonia Early Signs of Infective Endocarditis How to Manage Infective Endocarditis Early Signs of Pericarditis How to Manage Pericarditis

Clinical Matches — Authority Pages

Condition-level differential and comparison resources for this combination

Differential analyses:

🔬Bronchitis: differential →🔬Pneumonia: differential →🔬Pericarditis: differential →

Condition comparisons:

⇄Bronchitis vs Pneumonia →⇄Pleurisy vs Pneumonia →

Experiencing Chest Pain and Fever?

Get a personalised AI clinical assessment — possible causes, red flags, and recommended next steps.