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I always wondered about other patients with chronic fever and how they cope with pandemic-related restrictions. But surprisingly, there were hardly any results on Google. It made me realize that patients with chronic fever are few and far between, so I decided to write this to share my own experience as a patient with chronic autoimmune fever.

Warning: Long, long post ahead.

When the pandemic was looming on the horizon early this year, I was already anticipating the potential challenges I will face. When SARS hit our shores in 2003, temperature screening became commonplace. I thought it was something that will happen again and was already thinking to myself – “jialat, I will be denied access everywhere at this rate.”

I had an existing letter from my rheumatologist certifying that I have a chronic fever of a non-infectious nature. And it saved my ass a couple of times when my fever got detected at airports overseas (I’ve noted that Hong Kong airport’s thermal scanners are particularly aggressive).

So I guessed the letter would be enough when Covid-19 eventually hit our shores and temperature screening became ubiquitous.

I digress – but I do feel a bit bitter when I see signs everywhere stating that “anyone with a temperature of 37.5 and above will be declined access”. Maybe I take it a bit personally because my temperature is almost always between 37.5 and 38.3 degrees and it feels as if the sign is speaking to me.

Singapore went through a “lockdown” period (“Circuit Breaker”, they called it) from April to June. Subsequently, the country started opening up in phases. When it did, temperature screening became mandatory (when it was only sporadic prior to the lockdown). My first inkling of things to come was when I was declined access to a supermarket when I wanted to get a drink en route home after a short trip to the postbox. Unfortunately, I left my doctor’s letter at home. No biggie though – home was just 3 streets away, so I could simply walk back to hydrate.

The bigger problem started when I resumed my regular physiotherapy and medical appointments after the lockdown (such medical services were deemed “non-essential” and were suspended during the lockdown except for emergencies).

I was detained at my regular hospital despite holding a doctor’s letter from a doctor based in that hospital. I had a temperature of 37.8 so the screener was adamant about not allowing me entry despite me explaining I had a medical condition that caused chronic fever. Multiple phone calls later (including one to my rheumatologist), I was finally allowed in. I was already late for my appointment, and very very frustrated.

I subsequently shared about that experience online in a desperate bid to spread awareness.

There are people who live with a fever everyday. Not all fever = Covid-19 infection.

Yes, we are rare. But we exist.

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