title: [Fever of unknown origin in the 21st century: infectious diseases].
abstract: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a rare but important disease. The definition of FUO has not changed in the last 50 years. Classical FUO is defined by an illness of at least 3 weeks duration with fever greater than 38 masculine C, and no established diagnosis after 1 week of hospital investigation. The causes of FUO can be divided in four categories: infectious diseases, noninfectious inflammatory diseases, neoplasms, and others (miscellaneous). Recent studies have surprisingly shown that despite improved diagnostic procedures the percentage of patients with FUO, in which no diagnosis after intensive investigations in specialized centres can be found, has increased. However, finding the correct diagnosis in FUO is essential for these patients for psychological and vital reasons. Therefore and because of economic reasons patients with FUO should be investigated in specialized centres with a department for rheumatology and infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 1 (Gastroenterologie, Infektiologie und Rheumatologie), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin. thomas.schneider@charite.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loddenkemper
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudwaleit
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lode
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeitz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013182:Sprue, Tropical / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination