A Favipiravir-induced Fever in a Patient with COVID-19

Intern Med. 2020;59(22):2951-2953. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.5394-20. Epub 2020 Nov 15.

Abstract

We herein report the first case of a fever induced by favipiravir, a potential coronavirus disease 2019 therapeutic drug. An 82-year-old man diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia was transferred to our hospital following a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction test. He was treated with compassionate use of favipiravir. Both his oxygen demand and fever gradually improved after admission; however, his fever relapsed, and the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increased on day 7. We diagnosed his fever as being favipiravir-induced. The fever resolved a few days after favipiravir discontinuation, demonstrating the accuracy of the diagnosis. This case revealed that favipiravir can induce a fever.

Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019; drug fever; favipiravir.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amides / adverse effects*
  • Amides / therapeutic use
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Fever / chemically induced*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pyrazines / adverse effects*
  • Pyrazines / therapeutic use
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Amides
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Pyrazines
  • favipiravir