Fever of Unknown Origin - Some Important Causes

Some Important Causes

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is the most frequent cause of FUO. Drug-induced hyperthermia, as sole symptom of an adverse reaction to medication, should always be considered. Disseminated granulomatoses such as Tuberculosis, Histoplasmosis, Coccidioidomycosis, Blastomycosis and Sarcoidosis are associated with FUO. Lymphomas are the most common cause of FUO in adults. Thromboembolic disease (i.e. pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis) occasionally shows fever. Although infrequent, its potentially lethal consequences warrant evaluation of this cause. Endocarditis, although uncommon, is another important etiology to consider. An underestimated reason is factitious fever. Patients frequently are women that work, or have worked, in the medical field and have complex medical histories.