Pyrexia of unknown origin.

Fernandez, Cristina and Beeching, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7019-8791 (2018) 'Pyrexia of unknown origin.'. Clinical Medicine, Vol 18, Issue 2, pp. 170-174.

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Abstract

The syndrome of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) was first defined in 1961 but remains a clinical challenge for many physicians. Different subgroups with PUO have been suggested, each requiring different investigative strategies: classical, nosocomial, neutropenic and HIV-related. This could be expanded to include the elderly as a fifth group. The causes are broadly divided into four groups: infective, inflammatory, neoplastic and miscellaneous. Increasing early use of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and the development of new molecular and serological tests for infection have improved diagnostic capability, but up to 50% of patients still have no cause found despite adequate investigations. Reassuringly, the cohort of undiagnosed patients has a good prognosis. In this article we review the possible aetiologies of PUO and present a systematic clinical approach to investigation and management of patients, recommending potential second-line investigations when the aetiology is unclear. [Abstract copyright: © Royal College of Physicians 2018. All rights reserved.]

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WA Public Health > WA 20.5 Research (General) WB Practice of Medicine > Diagnosis > General Diagnosis > WB 141 General works WB Practice of Medicine > Diagnosis > General Diagnosis > WB 152 Chills. Fever
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.18-2-170
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited:	20 Apr 2018 14:53
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2019 06:27
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/8504

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