What are the fever symptoms of Rhus Tox?

Febrile Symptoms of Rhus Toxicodendron

Fever Types

Rhus tox is indicated in every variety of fever: intermittent (quotidian, tertian, quartan, and their doubles), remittent, continued, bilious, malarial, typhoid, typhus, septic, and pernicious fevers.

Chill Stage

– Onset often begins in one thigh (right side preferred) or between the scapulae.
– Shaking chills typically around 5 pm, even in a warm room, with great thirst and increased salivation.
– Chill accompanied by severe limb pains; patient feels internal coldness and must walk about for relief, with external covering often necessary to ease the chill.

Heat Stage

– General heat peaks mid–late morning (around 10 am), with yawning, drowsiness, and a sensation of hot water coursing through the blood vessels.
– Patient experiences intense internal heat while skin remains cold or clammy to touch.
– Dry, teasing cough without expectoration may arise; heat often brings out urticarial eruptions with violent itching that drive the patient frantic until slight perspiration occurs.

Sweat Stage

– Profuse, odorless perspiration, especially in the morning; usually non–debilitating and often follows the heat.
– Sweat relieves the internal heat and restlessness but does not eliminate all rheumatic or neuralgic pains.
– In chronic cases or after suppressive treatments, sweat may become sour, musty, or even putrid.

Concomitant Features

– Extreme restlessness and anxiety, with a constant need to change position and inability to remain in bed.
– Fear of impending doom or death often accompanies the fever.
– Preexisting rheumatic stiffness and tearing pains worsen during repose and become slightly better with moderate motion, mirroring Rhus tox’s characteristic “worse at first motion, better by continued movement” modality.