Classic definition
Repeated fever >38.3°C
Fever duration at least 3 weeks
Uncertain diagnosis after 1 week of study in the hospital
The definition of fever of unknown origin (FUO) h...
Onset and pattern of fever
Constitutional symptoms:
Chills, night sweats, myalgias, weight loss with an intact appetite (infectious etiology)
Arthralgias, myalgias, fatigue (inflammato...
Treatment depends on the specific etiology.
Therapeutic trials are a last resort and should be as specific as possible based on available clinical evidence. Avoid “shotgun” ap...
Cunha BA, Lortholary O, Cunha CB. Fever of unknown origin: a clinical approach. Am J Med. 2015;128(10):1138.e1–1138.e15. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
Hayakawa K, Ramasamy B,...
Arteritis, Temporal; Arthritis, Juvenile Idiopathic; Colon Cancer; Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Inclusion Disease; Endocarditis, Infective; Hepatoma (Hepatocellular Carcinoma); HIV/AIDS; Lupus Eryth...
A sequential approach to FUO based on a careful history, physical examination, with targeted testing and imaging typically yields an appropriate diagnosis and avoids excessive nontarge...
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