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[Fever of unknown origin. Infectious causes]

B Salzberger1, A Schneidewind, F Hanses

  • 1Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, Regensburg, Germany. bernd.salzberger@klinik.uni-regensburg.de

Der Internist
|November 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Infectious diseases are a primary cause of fever of unexplained origin (FUO). This review examines infectious causes across various patient groups, including those with HIV and immunocompromised individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Internal Medicine
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Fever of unexplained origin (FUO) presents a diagnostic challenge.
  • Infectious etiologies are a leading cause of FUO across diverse patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the spectrum of infectious diseases causing FUO.
  • To analyze infectious causes in specific clinical contexts: classical FUO, HIV-infected patients, nosocomial FUO, and immunocompromised patients.
  • To identify clinical features predictive of specific infectious diseases in FUO.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of infectious diseases associated with FUO.
  • Categorization of FUO cases based on patient population (classical, HIV, healthcare-associated, immunocompromised).
  • Analysis of clinical presentations and diagnostic clues for infectious etiologies.

Main Results:

  • Infectious diseases are a significant contributor to FUO.
  • The spectrum of infectious causes varies depending on the patient's clinical situation and immune status.
  • Identifying key clinical features is crucial for diagnosing the underlying infectious disease.

Conclusions:

  • A systematic approach is necessary to diagnose infectious causes of FUO.
  • Understanding patient-specific factors aids in narrowing the differential diagnosis of infectious FUO.
  • Clinical features are paramount in guiding the investigation of FUO.

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