Spectrum: Local Antimicrobial Stewardship, for Yangon Children's Hospital

Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO)

Definition

  • A temperature >38.3ºC on several occasions for more than three weeks, OR

  • Fever with failure to reach a diagnosis after one week of inpatient investigations

Epidemiology and Aetiology

  • 30-50% of cases are due to infections

  • 10-20% of cases are due to autoimmune disorders

  • 5-10% of cases are due to cancer

  • 10-15% of patients remain undiagnosed despite extensive investigations

    • In 75% of these, the fever resolves spontaneously

Diagnosis

Management