Abstract
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is among the most conditions which poses challenge in diagnosis. The presence of information on regional patterns of FUO will shorten the time for diagnosis and reduces health services costs. There are almost no previous studies describing the etiology of FUO in children of Egypt or nearby countries. To determine different causes of FUO and the possible diagnostic procedures. Data of patients with FUO, presented to the Infectious Diseases Unit of Mansoura University Children Hospital, were retrospectively collected in a 6 year-period from May 2006 to May 2011. The study included children with a fever of 38.3° C or more documented by a health care provider and for which the cause could not be identified after 3 weeks of evaluation as an outpatient or after a week of evaluation in hospital. Patients were then categorized into 5 groups. 127 patients met the diagnostic criteria. Infectious diseases were the commonest causes of FUO in 46 cases (36.22%) followed by the miscellaneous causes in 38 cases (29.9%). Meanwhile, collagen vascular diseases and malignancy were diagnosed in 13 cases (10.2%) and 10 cases (7.87%) respectively. While, 20 cases (15.75%) remained undiagnosed. Infectious diseases are the commonest cause of FUO. The delay in diagnosis was due to atypical presentations or inappropriate use of antibiotic prior to the referral. Non infectious causes, malignancy and collagen or vascular disorders were diagnosed in rest of the patients. However, about 15% of our patients remained undiagnosed. The diagnosis was established by non-invasive means in more than two-third of the cases.
Highlights
After 60 years of the original description of Fever of unknown origin (FUO) by Petersdorf and Beeson in 1961, [1] FUO remains among the most challenging clinical situations in diagnosis for health care providers to approach and often involves referral to subspecialists. [2]The term FUO is best reserved for children with a fever documented by a health care provider and for which the cause could not be identified after 3 week of evaluation as an outpatient or after 1 week of evaluation in hospital
Infectious diseases were the commonest causes of FUO in 46 cases (36.22%) followed by the miscellaneous causes in 38 cases (29.9%)
Infectious diseases are the commonest cause of FUO
Summary
After 60 years of the original description of Fever of unknown origin (FUO) by Petersdorf and Beeson in 1961, [1] FUO remains among the most challenging clinical situations in diagnosis for health care providers to approach and often involves referral to subspecialists. The term FUO is best reserved for children with a fever documented by a health care provider and for which the cause could not be identified after 3 week of evaluation as an outpatient or after 1 week of evaluation in hospital. [6] The presence of information on regional patterns of FUO would provide several benefits, such as shortening the time taken to establish a diagnosis and reducing hospital costs. The presence of information on regional patterns of FUO will shorten the time for diagnosis and reduces health services costs. There are almost no previous studies describing the etiology of FUO in children of Egypt or nearby countries
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
