Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a problem frequently faced by clinicians all over the world. One hundred and twenty-one cases of FUO presenting to a large teaching hospital in northern India were prospectively studied over a period of 2 years. Infections were the commonest cause accounting for 43.8% cases of FUO, with tuberculosis (TB) being the commonest infection encountered. Collagen vascular diseases and tumours accounted for 15.7 and 8.3% cases, respectively. No cause could be found out in a substantial number of cases (19%) even after invasive investigations. Knowledge of the current patterns of FUO is important since many patients present with potentially treatable diseases.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
PetersdorfRGBeesonPB. Fever of unexplained origin — Report on 100 cases. Medicine1961; 40: 1–30
2.
KnockaertDCVannesteLJVannesteSBBobbaersHJ. Fever of unknown origin in the 1980s: An update of the diagnostic spectrum. Arch Intern Med1982; 152: 51–5
3.
BarbadoFJVazquezJJPenaJMArnalichFOrtiz-VazquezJ.Pyrexia of unknown origin: Changing spectrum of diseases in 2 consecutive series. Postgrad Med J1992; 68: 884–7
4.
LarsonEBFeatherstoneHJPetersdorfRG. Fever of undetermined origin: Diagnosis and follow up of 105 cases 1970–1980. Medicine (Baltimore)1982; 61: 269–91
5.
HassanAFaridZ.Fever of undetermined origin in Cairo. N Engl J Med1974; 290: 807
6.
WanvarieSTanphaichitraDLimsuwanA. Fever of unknown origin — A review of 25 cases in Ramathibodi Hospital. J Med Ass Thailand1981; 64: 155–8
7.
PetersdorfRG. Fever of unknown origin — An old friend revisited (editorial). Arch Intern Med1992; 152: 21–2
8.
KnockaertDC. Fever of unknown origin, a literature survey. Acta Clin Belg1992; 47 (1): 42–57
9.
DurackDTStreetAC. Fever of unknown origin — Reexamined and redefined. Curr Clin Top Infec Dis1991; 11: 35–51
