Prolonged fever of unknown origin in children

Extract

• The preliminary investigations of prolonged fever of unknown origin (FUO) in primary health care are
  • Full blood count, CRP and ESR
  • urinalysis and bacterial culture
  • imaging studies as considered necessary (chest x-ray, maxillary sinus imaging).
• If the blood picture is normal, CRP and ESR within normal limits and the fever is fluctuating and of low grade, a specific underlying cause is only rarely found. In these cases, fever gradually resolves in over 80% of children.
• If the blood picture has abnormal features, the inflammatory markers are elevated and no obvious cause for the fever is found or empiric antimicrobials are considered, investigations are continued in specialist health care.
• Fever in infants under the age of 3 months requires investigations as an emergency case Acutely ill infant1. This article addresses prolonged fever in children. See also the article Fever in a child Fever in a child2.

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Child, FUO, FWS, Fever, Fever of unknown origin, Fever without a source, Paediatrics, Prolonged fever, R50*