Non-infectious fever associated with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Fever in the setting of upper gastrointestinal bleeding may represent a non-infectious process, historically termed absorption fever, rather than an occult infection.Careful clinical, laboratory and imaging evaluation is crucial to distinguish non-infectious fever from infection and to guide appropriate management.Recognising absorption fever helps avoid unnecessary antibiotic use and supports antimicrobial stewardship, but only after serious infectious and inflammatory causes have been carefully excluded.