Abstract
The occurrence of a transitory increase in temperature with every visit to an out-patient dental clinic is uncommon.
The case of a 3 year and 2 month girl showed this type of fleeting elevation of temperature at our dental clinic and afforded in opportunity to investigate its etiology.
1. The parents were extremely shocked when her elder sister died suddenly from Reye syndrome, and after that they came to distrust medical treatment.
2. On the day when she visited the clinic the patient, having normal temperature at home, showed an elavation of temperature at the dental clinic, but her temperature was back to normal when she returned home.
3. During dental treatment the patient was quite cooperative and did not cry.
4. The elevation patterns of the temperature during the dental procedures with and without a local anesthetic were the same.
5. As soon as her father approached the dental chair and talked to the dentist, her temperature rose.
6. Three kinds of psychological tests given to the parents indicated that they had intendency to dote on her, but her father showed extreme inconsistency (contradiction) in his attitude toward bringin, her up.
We diagnosed the case as psychogenic fever.
