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[Fever without focus and fever of unknown origin in childhood]

Nicole Ritz1

  • 1Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel (UKBB) und Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne. nicole.ritz@ukbb.ch

Praxis
|February 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Fever without a focus requires prompt investigation in children, especially infants. Fever of unknown origin diagnosis is challenging, often revealing infectious causes but sometimes remaining idiopathic.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Internal Medicine

Context:

  • Fever is a common pediatric symptom.
  • Fever without a focus (FWOF) necessitates urgent evaluation in newborns and infants.
  • Fever of unknown origin (FUO) presents diagnostic challenges, persisting for over two weeks.

Purpose:

  • To review differential diagnoses for FWOF and FUO.
  • To outline recommended investigations for pediatric fever.
  • To discuss treatment strategies for pediatric fever of unknown origin.

Summary:

  • FWOF requires rapid assessment to identify underlying causes.
  • FUO diagnosis is complex, with infections being the most common etiology (approx. 50%).
  • Inflammatory and malignant conditions account for 5-10% of FUO cases; etiology remains unknown in up to 25% despite thorough investigation.

Impact:

  • Provides a guide for clinicians managing pediatric fever.
  • Highlights the importance of systematic and interdisciplinary approaches.
  • Aims to improve diagnostic yield and patient outcomes for FWOF and FUO.

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