Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO)
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Key features of fever of unknown origin (FUO), also known as pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO), are as follows:
The syndrome of fever of unknown origin (FUO) was defined in 1961 by Petersdorf and Beeson as the following: (1) a temperature greater than 38.3°C (101°F) on several occasions, (2) more than 3 weeks’ duration of illness, and (3) failure to reach a diagnosis despite one week of inpatient investigation. [1, 2] However, it is important to allow for flexibility in this definition. The emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the expanding use of immunomodulating therapies prompted Durack and Street to propose differentiating FUO into four categories: classical FUO (Petersdorf definition), hospital-acquired FUO, immunocompromised or neutropenic FUO, and HIV-related FUO. [3]
Emerging techniques such as molecular diagnostics, expanding use of immunocompromising therapies and organ transplantation, and the advent of globally mobile populations demand an evolving approach to defining and evaluating FUO. [4, 3, 5] Modern imaging techniques (eg, ultrasonography, computed tomography [CT] scanning, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], positron emission tomography [PET]) enable early detection of abscesses and solid tumors that were once difficult to diagnose.
A baseline definition of “fever” is important in determining whether a patient’s report of an elevated temperature warrants an FUO workup. Most temperatures are measured orally for both practical and physiologic purposes. A “normal” core (internal) body temperature ranges from 96º Fahrenheit (F) (35.6º Celsius [C]) to 100.8ºF (38.2ºC) in healthy persons, with a mean of 98.2ºF (36.8ºC). Core temperature in the afternoon is about 1ºF higher later in the day and may be a bit higher in women.
The temperature of the sublingual fossa correlates most closely, and changes most consistently, with core body temperature, which is fairly constant; the rectum and axilla do not, especially during sepsis. The tympanic membrane also correlates with core body temperature and is nearest to the hypothalamic center that regulates temperature, but accuracy depends on user technique and whether the ear canal is obstructed (eg, by wax); cold weather also cools the tympanic membrane. [6]
For the purposes of this article, the term FUO refers to the classic category, which focuses on the adult population. The definition of FUO in the pediatric age group varies, with a time frame ranging from 1-3 weeks in the literature. In this age group, the differential diagnoses are led by infections, followed by collagen vascular diseases; malignancy is typically not heralded by fever alone in children. [7] This article excludes FUO in the setting of impaired immunity such as HIV disease, solid-organ and bone marrow transplantation, and neutropenia. Disease-specific diagnostic algorithms in these conditions are described elsewhere. Regardless of age group, most clinicians define FUO as a persisting conundrum with few or no objective clues.
Causes of FUO may differ geographically based on regional exposures, economic development, and available diagnostic tools. For example, in developing countries, infection may predominate, while noninfectious inflammatory and malignant conditions are more common in developed countries. The focus of this article is FUO in developed countries; however, travel-associated causes that may present from developing countries should not be missed.
The list of etiologic possibilities is extensive, and it is helpful to break the differential diagnoses into broader categories, such as infection, noninfectious inflammatory conditions, malignancies, and miscellaneous. In recent years, noninfectious inflammatory disorders predominate, with infection now second.
A prospective review of FUO in 290 subjects between 1990 and 1999 found noninfectious inflammatory diseases in 35.2% of cases, infections in 29.7%, miscellaneous causes in 19.8%, and malignancies in 15.1%. Most were diagnosed within 3 visits or 3 hospital days. This differs from prior estimates, in which infections dominated, followed by malignancies, collagen vascular diseases, and numerous miscellaneous conditions. With the increasing use of immunomodulators used to treat an expanding range of conditions, infection may yet regain its lead as the cause of FUO. Interestingly, the rate of unknown causes is higher in this report than in prior estimates, with 33.8% remaining undiagnosed beyond 7 days. The short time frame may overestimate the number of undiagnosed cases. Evaluations in the past may not have proceeded as quickly, and, even now, newer tests may require transport to specialty laboratories, and diagnosis may still take longer than 7 days. [8]
The causes of FUO are often common conditions presenting atypically. Listed below are the most common, less common, and least common in their respective categories, but by no means the only causes.
The most common noninfectious inflammatory causes of FUO include the following:
Less-common noninfectious inflammatory causes of FUO include the following:
The least common noninfectious inflammatory causes of FUO include the following:
The most common infectious causes of FUO include the following:
Less-common infectious causes of FUO include the following:
The least common infectious causes of FUO are listed below.
Organ-based infectious causes of FUO are as follows:
Geographic and travel-related considerations for FUO are listed below.
Tickborne infections, as follows:
Regional infections, as follows:
Malignant and neoplastic causes of FUO are as follows:
Miscellaneous Causes of FUO are as follows:
For patient education information, see Fever in Adults and Fever in Children.
Despite extensive differential diagnoses, patients with FUO that remains undiagnosed after an intensive and rational diagnostic evaluation generally have a reassuringly benign long-term course.
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Sandra G Gompf, MD, FACP, FIDSA Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Chief, Infectious Diseases Section, Director, Occupational Health and Infection Control Programs, James A Haley Veterans Hospital
Sandra G Gompf, MD, FACP, FIDSA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference
Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.
Charles V Sanders, MD Edgar Hull Professor and Chairman, Department of Internal Medicine, Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine at New Orleans; Medical Director, Medicine Hospital Center, Charity Hospital and Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans; Consulting Staff, Ochsner Medical Center
Charles V Sanders, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, The Foundation for AIDS Research, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, Southwestern Association of Clinical Microbiology, Association of Professors of Medicine, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, American Clinical and Climatological Association, Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orleans Parish Medical Society, Southeastern Clinical Club, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association of University Professors, American Association for Physician Leadership, American Federation for Medical Research, American Geriatrics Society, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Thoracic Society, American Venereal Disease Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of American Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Royal Society of Medicine, Sigma Xi, Society of General Internal Medicine, Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Received royalty from Baxter International for other.
Michael Stuart Bronze, MD David Ross Boyd Professor and Chairman, Department of Medicine, Stewart G Wolf Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center; Master of the American College of Physicians; Fellow, Infectious Diseases Society of America; Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London
Michael Stuart Bronze, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Oklahoma State Medical Association, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Kirk M Chan-Tack, MD Medical Officer, Division of Antiviral Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
John Bartlett, MD Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
John Bartlett, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, American Thoracic Society, American Venereal Disease Association, Association of American Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Society of Critical Care Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO)
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