It may be taken at first for almost any fever, particularly typhoid, or for venereal disease or lymphangitis.
The presence of ascending lymphangitis and lymphadenopathy suggest an infectious cause.
Cellulitis can spread in the skin and involve the lymphatic system causing lymphangitis.
Lymphadenitis is sometimes accompanied by lymphangitis, which is the inflammation of the lymphatic vessels that connect the lymph nodes.
If the lymphatic vessels are also infected, in a condition referred to as lymphangitis, there will be red streaks extending from the wound in the direction of the lymph nodes, throbbing pain, and high fever and/or chills.