title: Fever of unknown origin: review of 86 patients treated in community hospitals.
abstract: This study describes the clinical features of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in 86 patients in a community setting from 1984 to 1990. Infectious diseases remain the most common category of illnesses causing FUO; in this study, infectious diseases including recently described diseases--such as AIDS (three cases) and Lyme disease (one case)--caused FUO in 28 patients. Although percutaneous computed tomography-guided procedures were useful for obtaining diagnostic specimens (15 cases), a noninvasive approach established the diagnosis in many instances (37 cases). In all but nine cases, diagnostic testing was guided by abnormalities detected during the physical examination or routine laboratory tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kazanjian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology