Knowra Fever of unknown origin Fever of unknown origin Fever of unknown origin is a prolonged fever that remains unexplained after an appropriate initial medical evaluation. Its causes span infections, cancers, inflammatory diseases, and other conditions.
Fever : A regulated rise in body temperature, usually triggered by immune signals during illness. It is the defining sign, but fever alone does not identify the underlying cause.
Body temperature : A measure of the body's internal thermal state, varying with time, location, and measurement method. Thresholds for fever depend on how and where temperature is measured.
Tuberculosis : An infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, most often affecting the lungs but sometimes other organs. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis can cause prolonged fever with few localizing symptoms.
Recurrent fever : Episodes of elevated body temperature separated by periods in which fever subsides. Its episodic pattern differs from the sustained or prolonged fever defining this syndrome.
Differential diagnosis : The process of identifying and comparing possible explanations for a patient's signs and symptoms. Evaluation proceeds by revising possible causes as evidence accumulates.
Fever of unknown origin criteria : Clinical definitions specifying the fever's duration, temperature, and extent of prior evaluation. Criteria distinguish this syndrome from short-lived fever or an incomplete workup.
Infective endocarditis : An infection of the inner lining of the heart, usually involving one or more valves. It can present as persistent fever without an obvious source and requires blood cultures and cardiac evaluation.
Fever of unknown origin in children : A prolonged unexplained fever in a child, assessed using age-specific criteria and causes. Children have distinct diagnostic thresholds and a different distribution of likely causes.
Medical history : A structured account of a patient's symptoms, exposures, medical conditions, and treatments. Travel, medication use, and exposure details can reveal causes missed by broad testing.
Inflammation : A biological response to infection, injury, or other stimuli involving immune cells and signaling molecules. Inflammation can produce persistent fever even when no infection is present.
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