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Microbiological Rapid On-Site Evaluation for Pulmonary Infectious Diseases
Published on: March 1, 2024
Fever of unknown origin in the elderly. A sequential approach to diagnosis
1Department of Medicine, Carney Hospital, Boston, MA 02124.
Abstract:
Elderly patients with persistent unexplained fever require a diagnostic evaluation that focuses on specific infections (eg, occult abdominal abscess, bacterial endocarditis, miliary tuberculosis), rheumatic disorders (eg, temporal arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa), and neoplasms (eg, lymphoma, nephroma). Assessment is directed by the subtle clues elicited from meticulous, repeated history taking and physical examination. Therapeutic trials or exploratory laparotomy may be appropriate but should not be attempted out of a sense of frustration.
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