Medicine:Fever of unknown origin
| Fever of unknown origin | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Pyrexia of unknown origin, febris e causa ignota |
| Duration | ≥3 weeks |
| Types | Various |
| Causes | Infections, malignancies, non-infectious inflammatory diseases, others |
| Diagnostic method | Clinician-verified temperature at or above 38.3 Celsius at any measurement site on several occasions over at least 3 weeks. |
| Differential diagnosis | Factitious fever, malingering |
| Frequency | 2–3 % of all medical admissions[1] |
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) refers to a condition in which the patient has an elevated temperature (fever) for which no cause can be found despite investigations by one or more qualified physicians.[2][3][4] If the cause is found, it is usually a diagnosis of exclusion, eliminating all possibilities until only the correct explanation remains.
In the West, the classical medical definition of the FUO required a clinician-verified measurement of temperature of ≥38.3 at any site on several (varied) occasions over 3 weeks,[5][6][7] though in the recent years the threshold of ≥38.0 has been becoming increasingly more prevalent.[8]
Causes
Worldwide, infection is the leading cause of FUO, with prevalence varying by country and geographic region.[9] Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is the most frequent cause of FUO.[3] Drug-induced hyperthermia, as the sole symptom of an adverse drug reaction, should always be considered. Disseminated granulomatoses such as tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, and sarcoidosis are associated with FUO. Lymphomas are the most common cause of FUO in adults. Thromboembolic disease (i.e., pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis) occasionally causes a fever. Although infrequent, its potentially lethal consequences warrant evaluation of this cause. Infective endocarditis, although uncommon, is possible. Bartonella infections are also known to cause fever of unknown origin.[10]
Human herpes viruses are a common cause of fever of unknown origin with one study showing Cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) being present in 15%, 10%, 14% and 4.8% respectively with 10% of people presenting with co-infection (infection with two or more human herpes viruses).[9] Infectious mononucleosis, most commonly caused by EBV, may present as a fever of unknown origin. Other symptoms of infectious mononucleosis vary with age with middle-aged adults and the elderly more likely to have a longer duration of fever and leukopenia, and younger adults and adolescents more likely to have splenomegaly, pharyngitis and lymphadenopathy.[9]
Endemic mycoses such as histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis can cause a fever of unknown origin in immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent people. These endemic mycoses may also present with pulmonary symptoms or extra-pulmonary symptoms such as B symptoms (such as fevers, chills, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss).[9] The endemic mycotic infection talaromycosis primarily affects those who are immunocompromised.[9] Invasive opportunistic mycoses may also occur in immunocompromised people; these include aspergillosis, mucormycosis, Cryptococcus neoformans.[9]
Cancer can also cause a fever of unknown origin. This is thought to be due to release of pyrogenic cytokines from cancer cells as well as due to spontaneous tumor necrosis (sometimes with secondary infections).[9] The cancer types most associated with fever of unknown origin include renal cell carcinoma, lymphoma, liver cancer, ovarian cancer atrial myxoma and Castleman disease.[9]
In those with HIV currently being treated with antiretroviral therapy and with a low or undetectable viral load, the causes of fever of unknown origin are usually not associated with HIV infection. But in those with AIDS, with high viral loads, viral replication, and immune compromise; cancers and opportunistic infection are the most common cause of FUO.[9] Approximately 2 weeks after initial HIV infection, with viral loads being high, an acute retroviral syndrome can present with fevers, rash and mono-like symptoms.[9]
Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is a common cause of FUO when a previously suppressed immune system is reactivated. The newly active immune system often has an exaggerated response against opportunistic pathogens, leading to a fever and other inflammatory symptoms. Immune reconstitution syndrome commonly presents after microbiological control of infection (in cases of immunosuppressing pathogens such as HIV), but the syndrome may also present after organ transplant, in the post-partum state, with formerly neutropenic hosts, or after withdrawing anti-TNF therapy.[9]
Auto-inflammatory and auto-immune disorders account for approximately 5-32% of fevers of unknown origin.[9] These can be classified as purely auto-inflammatory disorders (disorders of innate immunity, with dysregulated interleukin 1 beta and/or IL-18 responses), purely auto-immune disorders (in which the adaptive immunity is dysregulated, with a dysregulated type 1 interferon response) or disorders with mixed features.[9] Rheumatoid arthritis or adult-onset Still's disease have mixed features and are common causes of FUO.[9]
Infection
Neoplasm
Although most neoplasms can present with fever, malignant lymphoma is by far the most common diagnosis of FUO among neoplasms.[12] In some cases, the fever even precedes lymphadenopathy detectable by physical examination.[12]
| Neoplasm cause | Disease name |
|---|---|
| Hematologic malignancies |
|
| Solid tumors | |
| Benign |
|
Noninfectious inflammatory diseases
Miscellaneous conditions
- ADEM (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis)[12]
- Adrenal insufficiency[12]
- Aneurysm[12]
- Anomalous thoracic duct[12]
- Aortic dissection[11]
- Aortic-enteral fistula[12]
- Aseptic meningitis (Mollaret's syndrome)[12]
- Atrial myxoma[12]
- Brewer's yeast ingestion[12]
- Caroli disease[12]
- Cholesterol emboli[12]
- Complex partial status epilepticus[12]
- Cyclic neutropenia[12]
- Drug fever[11][12]
- Erdheim–Chester disease[12]
- Extrinsic allergic alveolitis[12]
- Factitious disease[11][12]
- Fire-eater's lung[12]
- Fraudulent fever[12]
- Gaucher's disease[12]
- Hamman–Rich syndrome (acute interstitial pneumonia)[12]
- Hashimoto's encephalopathy[12]
- Hematomas[11][12]
- Hemoglobinopathies[11]
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis[12]
- Hypertriglyceridemia[12]
- Hypothalamic hypopituitarism[12]
- Idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus[12]
- Inflammatory pseudotumor[12]
- Kikuchi's disease[11][12]
- Linear IgA dermatosis[12]
- Laennec's cirrhosis[11]
- Mesenteric fibromatosis[12]
- Metal fume fever[12]
- Milk protein allergy[12]
- Myotonic dystrophy[12]
- Nonbacterial osteitis[12]
- Organic dust toxic syndrome[12]
- Panniculitis[12]
- POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, skin changes)[12]
- Polymer fume fever[12]
- Post–cardiac injury syndrome[12]
- Postmyocardial infarction syndrome[11]
- Primary biliary cirrhosis [12]
- Primary hyperparathyroidism[12]
- Recurrent pulmonary emboli[11]
- Pyoderma gangrenosum[12]
- Retroperitoneal fibrosis [12]
- Rosai-Dorfman disease[12]
- Sclerosing mesenteritis[12]
- Silicone embolization[12]
- Subacute thyroiditis (de Quervain's)[11][12]
- Sweet syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis)[12]
- Thrombosis[12]
- Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome (TINU)[12]
- Tissue infarction/necrosis[11]
- Ulcerative colitis[12]
Inherited and metabolic diseases
- Adrenal insufficiency[11]
- Cyclic neutropenia[11]
- Deafness, urticaria, and amyloidosis[11]
- Fabry disease[11]
- Familial cold urticaria[11]
- Familial Mediterranean fever[11][12]
- Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D and periodic fever[11][12]
- Muckle–Wells syndrome[11]
- Tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated periodic syndrome (familial Hibernian fever)[11][12]
- Type V Hypertriglyceridemia[11]
Thermoregulatory disorders
| Thermoregulatory disorders | Location |
|---|---|
| Central |
|
| Peripheral |
Diagnosis
A comprehensive and meticulous history (i.e. illness of family members, recent visit to the tropics, medication), repeated physical examination (i.e. skin rash, eschar, lymphadenopathy, heart murmur) and myriad laboratory tests (serological, blood culture, immunological) are the cornerstone of finding the cause.[2][4]
Other investigations may be needed. Ultrasound may show cholelithiasis, echocardiography may be needed in suspected endocarditis and a CT-scan may show infection or malignancy of internal organs. Another technique is Gallium-67 scanning which seems to visualize chronic infections more effectively. Invasive techniques (biopsy and laparotomy for pathological and bacteriological examination) may be required before a definite diagnosis is possible.[2][4]
Positron emission tomography using radioactively labelled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been reported to have a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 86% for localizing the source of fever of unknown origin.[13]
Despite all this, diagnosis may only be suggested by the therapy chosen. When a patient recovers after discontinuing medication, it likely was drug fever; when antibiotics or antimycotics work, it probably was infection. Empirical therapeutic trials should be used in those patients in whom other techniques have failed.[2]
Definition
There is no universal agreement with regards to time criteria or other diagnostic criteria to diagnose a fever of unknown origin, and various definitions have been used.[9]
In 1961 Petersdorf and Beeson suggested the following criteria:[2][3]
- Fever higher than 38.3 °C (101 °F) on several occasions
- Persisting without diagnosis for at least 3 weeks
- At least 1 week's investigation in the hospital
A new definition, which includes the outpatient setting (which reflects current medical practice), is broader, stipulating:
- 3 outpatient visits or
- 3 days in the hospital without elucidation of a cause or
- 1 week of "intelligent and invasive" ambulatory investigation.[3]
Presently, FUO cases are codified in four subclasses.
Classic
This refers to the original classification by Petersdorf and Beeson. Studies show there are five categories of conditions:[citation needed]
- infections (e.g. abscesses, endocarditis, tuberculosis, and complicated urinary tract infections),
- neoplasms (e.g. lymphomas, leukaemias),
- connective tissue diseases (e.g. temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, Still's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis),
- miscellaneous disorders (e.g. alcoholic hepatitis, granulomatous conditions), and
- undiagnosed conditions.[2][4]
Nosocomial
Nosocomial FUO refers to pyrexia in patients who have been admitted to the hospital for at least 24 hours. This is commonly related to hospital-associated factors such as surgery, use of a urinary catheter, intravascular devices (i.e., "drip", pulmonary artery catheter), drugs (antibiotic-induced Clostridioides difficile colitis, drug fever), and/or immobilization (decubitus ulcers). Sinusitis in the intensive care unit is associated with nasogastric and orotracheal tubes.[2][3][4] Other conditions that should be considered are deep-vein thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, transfusion reactions, acalculous cholecystitis, thyroiditis, alcohol/drug withdrawal, adrenal insufficiency, and pancreatitis.[3]
Immune-deficient
Immunodeficiency can be seen in patients receiving chemotherapy or in hematologic malignancies. Fever is concomitant with neutropenia (neutrophil <500/uL) or impaired cell-mediated immunity. The lack of immune response masks a potentially dangerous course. Infection is the most common cause.[2][3][4]
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated
HIV-infected patients are a subgroup of the immunodeficient FUO, and frequently have fever. The primary phase shows fever since it has a mononucleosis-like illness. In advanced stages of infection, fever is mostly the result of a superimposed infection.[2][3][4]
Psychogenic fever
A specific disorder, reported especially in the Japanese literature, also known under the names functional hyperthermia and psychogenic hyperthermia. Like other functional disorders, it is reported to primarily affect teenagers.[14] Such fever (actually hyperthermia) is reported not to react to NSAIDs, but drugs affecting the central nervous system: powerful anxiolytics (such as diazepam)[15] and beta-blockers, cause quick defervescence.[15][16][17][18][19]
Treatment
Unless the patient is acutely ill, no therapy should be started before the cause has been found. This is because non-specific therapy is rarely effective and may delay the diagnosis. An exception is made for neutropenic (low white blood cell count) patients or patients who are severely immunocompromised, in which delay could lead to serious complications.[9] After blood cultures are taken, this condition is aggressively treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Antibiotics are adjusted according to the results of the cultures taken.[2][3][4]
HIV-infected people with pyrexia and hypoxia will be started on medication for possible Pneumocystis jirovecii infection. Therapy is adjusted after a diagnosis is made.[4]
Prognosis
Since a wide range of conditions are associated with FUO, prognosis depends on the particular cause.[2] If, after six to twelve months, no diagnosis is found, the chances of ever finding a specific cause diminish.[4] Under those circumstances, the prognosis is good.[3]
See also
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Encephalitis lethargica
- Idiopathic chronic fatigue
- Idiopathic disease
References
- ↑ De Pascali, Alessandra Mistral; Ingletto, Ludovica; Succi, Arianna; Brandolini, Martina; Dionisi, Laura; Colosimo, Claudia; Gatti, Giulia; Dirani, Giorgio et al. (2025-08-01). "Epidemiology and diagnostic challenges of fever of unknown origin (FUO) among adults: A multicenter retrospective study in Northern Italy". Journal of Infection and Public Health 18 (8). doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102824. ISSN 1876-0341. PMID 40403627.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Mandell's Principles and Practices of Infection Diseases 6th Edition (2004) by Gerald L. Mandell MD, MACP, John E. Bennett MD, Raphael Dolin MD, ISBN 0-443-06643-4 · Hardback · 4016 Pages Churchill Livingstone
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 16th Edition, The McGraw-Hill Companies, ISBN 0-07-140235-7
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 The Oxford Textbook of Medicine Edited by David A. Warrell, Timothy M. Cox and John D. Firth with Edward J. Benz, Fourth Edition (2003), Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-262922-0
- ↑ Petersdorf, R. G.; Beeson, P. B. (February 1961). "Fever of unexplained origin: report on 100 cases". Medicine 40: 1–30. doi:10.1097/00005792-196102000-00001. ISSN 0025-7974. PMID 13734791.
- ↑ de Kleijn, E. M.; Vandenbroucke, J. P.; van der Meer, J. W. (November 1997). "Fever of unknown origin (FUO). I A. prospective multicenter study of 167 patients with FUO, using fixed epidemiologic entry criteria. The Netherlands FUO Study Group". Medicine 76 (6): 392–400. doi:10.1097/00005792-199711000-00002. ISSN 0025-7974. PMID 9413425.
- ↑ Wright, William F; Stelmash, Lauren; Betrains, Albrecht; Mulders-Manders, Catharina M; Rovers, Chantal P; Vanderschueren, Steven; Auwaerter, Paul G; International Fever and Inflammation of Unknown Origin Research Working Group et al. (2024-06-28). "Recommendations for Updating Fever and Inflammation of Unknown Origin From a Modified Delphi Consensus Panel" (in en). Open Forum Infectious Diseases 11 (7). doi:10.1093/ofid/ofae298. ISSN 2328-8957. PMID 38966848.
- ↑ Wright, William F.; Mulders-Manders, Catharina M.; Auwaerter, Paul G.; Bleeker-Rovers, Chantal P. (February 2022). "Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) – A Call for New Research Standards and Updated Clinical Management" (in en). The American Journal of Medicine 135 (2): 173–178. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.07.038. PMID 34437835. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S000293432100526X.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 Haidar, Ghady; Singh, Nina (3 February 2022). "Fever of Unknown Origin". New England Journal of Medicine 386 (5): 463–477. doi:10.1056/NEJMra2111003. PMID 35108471.
- ↑ "Beyond cat scratch disease: widening spectrum of Bartonella henselae infection". Pediatrics 121 (5): e1413–e1425. 2008. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-1897. PMID 18443019. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/121/5/e1413.long. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
- ↑ 11.000 11.001 11.002 11.003 11.004 11.005 11.006 11.007 11.008 11.009 11.010 11.011 11.012 11.013 11.014 11.015 11.016 11.017 11.018 11.019 11.020 11.021 11.022 11.023 11.024 11.025 11.026 11.027 11.028 11.029 11.030 11.031 11.032 11.033 11.034 11.035 11.036 11.037 11.038 11.039 11.040 11.041 11.042 11.043 11.044 11.045 11.046 11.047 11.048 11.049 11.050 11.051 11.052 11.053 11.054 11.055 11.056 11.057 11.058 11.059 11.060 11.061 11.062 11.063 11.064 11.065 11.066 11.067 11.068 11.069 11.070 11.071 11.072 11.073 11.074 11.075 11.076 11.077 11.078 11.079 11.080 11.081 11.082 11.083 11.084 11.085 11.086 11.087 11.088 11.089 11.090 11.091 11.092 11.093 11.094 11.095 11.096 11.097 11.098 11.099 11.100 11.101 11.102 11.103 11.104 11.105 11.106 11.107 11.108 11.109 11.110 11.111 11.112 11.113 11.114 11.115 11.116 11.117 11.118 11.119 11.120 11.121 11.122 11.123 11.124 11.125 11.126 11.127 11.128 11.129 11.130 11.131 11.132 11.133 11.134 11.135 11.136 11.137 11.138 11.139 11.140 11.141 11.142 11.143 11.144 11.145 11.146 11.147 11.148 11.149 11.150 11.151 11.152 11.153 11.154 Longo, Dan L., ed (2012). Harrison's principles of internal medicine (18th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-174889-6.
- ↑ 12.000 12.001 12.002 12.003 12.004 12.005 12.006 12.007 12.008 12.009 12.010 12.011 12.012 12.013 12.014 12.015 12.016 12.017 12.018 12.019 12.020 12.021 12.022 12.023 12.024 12.025 12.026 12.027 12.028 12.029 12.030 12.031 12.032 12.033 12.034 12.035 12.036 12.037 12.038 12.039 12.040 12.041 12.042 12.043 12.044 12.045 12.046 12.047 12.048 12.049 12.050 12.051 12.052 12.053 12.054 12.055 12.056 12.057 12.058 12.059 12.060 12.061 12.062 12.063 12.064 12.065 12.066 12.067 12.068 12.069 12.070 12.071 12.072 12.073 12.074 12.075 12.076 12.077 12.078 12.079 12.080 12.081 12.082 12.083 12.084 12.085 12.086 12.087 12.088 12.089 12.090 12.091 12.092 12.093 12.094 12.095 12.096 12.097 12.098 12.099 12.100 12.101 12.102 12.103 12.104 12.105 12.106 12.107 12.108 12.109 12.110 12.111 12.112 12.113 12.114 12.115 12.116 12.117 12.118 12.119 12.120 12.121 12.122 12.123 12.124 12.125 12.126 12.127 12.128 Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (19th ed.). US: McGraw-Hill Education. 2015. ISBN 978-0-07-180216-1.
- ↑ "Fever of unknown origin: prospective comparison of [18F]FDG imaging with a double-head coincidence camera and gallium-67 citrate SPET.". Eur J Nucl Med. 27 (11): 1617–1625. 2000. doi:10.1007/s002590000341. PMID 11105817.
- ↑ Kaneda, Yuko; Tsuji, Sadatoshi; Oka, Takakazu (December 2009). "Age distribution and gender differences in psychogenic fever patients" (in en). BioPsychoSocial Medicine 3 (1). doi:10.1186/1751-0759-3-6. ISSN 1751-0759. PMID 19379524.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Oka, Takakazu (2015-07-03). "Psychogenic fever: how psychological stress affects body temperature in the clinical population". Temperature 2 (3): 368–378. doi:10.1080/23328940.2015.1056907. ISSN 2332-8940. PMID 27227051.
- ↑ Oka, Takakazu; Oka, Kae (2012-02-01). "Mechanisms of Psychogenic Fever" (in EN). Advances in Neuroimmune Biology 3 (1): 3–17. doi:10.3233/NIB-2012-011030. ISSN 1878-948X. https://journals.sagepub.com/action/showAbstract.
- ↑ Oka, Kosuke; Tokumasu, Kazuki; Hagiya, Hideharu; Otsuka, Fumio (2024-02-03). "Characteristics of Functional Hyperthermia Detected in an Outpatient Clinic for Fever of Unknown Origin" (in en). Journal of Clinical Medicine 13 (3): 889. doi:10.3390/jcm13030889. ISSN 2077-0383. PMID 38337583.
- ↑ Nakamura, Kazuhiro (2015). "Neural circuit for psychological stress-induced hyperthermia". Temperature (Austin, Tex.) 2 (3): 352–361. doi:10.1080/23328940.2015.1070944. ISSN 2332-8940. PMID 27227049.
- ↑ Lin, Dayu (April 2020). "How stress can cause a fever" (in en). Nature 580 (7802): 189–190. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-00873-0. PMID 32231321. Bibcode: 2020Natur.580..189L. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00873-0.
External links
| Classification | |
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| External resources |
