[Fever of unknown origin. Presentation of 180 pediatric cases]

Abstract

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a frequent disorder in pediatric age. FUO is defined as the presence of fever over 38.4 centigrades in a patient for more than three weeks in which the etiology remains undetermined. From 30.736 consecutive admittances into our hospital, 180 patients with FUO were detected, and studied in a systematized way and according to a predetermined protocol. FUO was commonly found in children under six years of age. Our patients presented fever from three weeks to six and a half years of evolution; however, in the vast majority of the cases (n = 115) fever had a three weeks course. Several symptoms and physical manifestations other than fever were observed in our patients but they were widely variable and nonspecific. Infectious diseases were the commonest etiological factor encountered; among them, thyroid fever, and urinary tract infections were the most frequent infectious disorder found; in four children fever was associated to ampicillin administration; in 19 patients, fever was no demonstrated. A large number of laboratory investigations were done in the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases. We think that the study of a patient with FUO requires of a systematized approach.