Which symptom has the patient denied having recently?

The patient has denied having a fever recently. Fever is often indicative of an underlying infection or inflammatory process, and its presence or absence can be an important factor in diagnosing various conditions. In the context of a HEENT exam, this symptom can help differentiate between viral and bacterial infections, among other issues. If a patient reports the absence of fever, it may suggest that they are not currently fighting an infection, or it might indicate that any other symptoms they are experiencing do not stem from an acute infectious process. Consequently, ruling out fever helps clarify the clinical picture and guides further diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.

In contrast, symptoms such as chills, fatigue, and headaches may still be present even in the absence of a fever, suggesting alternative causes for these symptoms or indicating a different type of illness that doesn't involve a fever response.