Fever of Unknown Origin
Jake Anderson, DO, and Vanessa Cardy, MD
Background
- Fever lasting >3 wk
- No cause found despite
- >3 outpatient visits or
- >3 days of hospitalization
- Causes
- Infection
- Inflammatory disease
- Malignancy
- Drug fever
- Cause is not found in nearly 50% of cases
Clinical Findings
- History and physical
- Metabolic panel
- Blood cultures × 2
- Tuberculosis
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Imaging
- Chest X-ray
- CT abdomen and pelvis
- Echocardiogram
Management
- Treat empirically once differential has been narrowed substantially
