title: Fever of unknown origin in the elderly.
abstract: The most efficient diagnostic approach to fever of unknown origin (FUO) involves the analysis of clues obtained from a careful history and physical examination, the fever pattern, and selected tests. Fever patterns may assist diagnosis in the absence of other clinical clues. For example, a morning temperature spike instead of the usual afternoon spike may suggest tuberculosis, periarteritis nodosa, or Salmonella bacteremia.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination