(ID)- Pyrexia of Unknown Origin

Question 1

What is pyrexia of unknown origin?

Answer 1

Persistent fever over 38.3 for over 3 weeks with no cause

Question 2

What are some potential causes of pyrexia of unknown origin?

Answer 2

Abscesses-liver, lung, kdieny
Bacterial-infective endocarditis, lyme disease
Connective tissue disorders
Drug reactions
Embolus
Fungal and parasitic infection-malaria, schistosomiasis
Hodkin’s lymphoma and renal hydronephromas
Immune inflammatory syndromes

Question 3

How is pyrexia of unknown origin treated?

Answer 3

Identify cause and treat

If cause is not identifiable symptomatic management

Question 4

What investigations are used for pyrexia of unknown origin?

Answer 4

FBC
Blood culture
Echocardiogram
Imaging
LP
Tissue biopsy