$Unique_ID{BRK01646}
$Pretitle{Ill Defined Symptoms and Rare Diseases}
$Title{Information About "FUO"}
$Subject{fever unknown cause FUO}
$Volume{N}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Information About "FUO"


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QUESTION:  After many doctor visits, and a huge expense, I am still at a loss
for an explanation of my condition.  My persistent fevers, have been given the
name of "FUO", which doesn't tell me too much.  Do you have any information
about this disorder that you can share with me?  I certainly can use all the
help I can get.

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ANSWER:  Though I may not be able to provide you with specific information
about your situation, I am happy to offer you this general discussion of your
problem.  "FUO" stands for "Fever of Unknown Origin".  In this age of superb
diagnostic abilities on the part of physicians and relatively new aids to
diagnosis--such as CT scans and the like--there are fewer fevers for which the
cause cannot be determined.  Yet, some FUO's occur.  They can be of real
concern especially in older patients, the poorly nourished and in those whose
bodies have decreased natural abilities to fight disease.
     FUO's are fevers that last for several weeks and for which patients and
their doctors can find no cause.  Medically, before a patient is diagnosed as
suffering from FUO, three points must exist:  (1) fever must have lasted for
one to three weeks; (2) body temperature must have been greater than 101 F on
several occasions; and (3) diagnosis of the cause of the fever has not been
possible after one week.
     Normal human body temperature ranges from 96.8 to 100.4 F; the lowest
daily temperatures usually occur in the early morning upon awakening, while
the highest are found in the late afternoon or early evening, and following
exercise.  Persons whose usual body temperature is at the upper end of the
range and in whom temperatures are taken late in the afternoon may appear to
have a low fever when, for them, it is really normal.
     Yet, when a fever for which no cause can be found persists for several
weeks, the sufferer and his/her doctors often become quite anxious.
     Through careful diagnostic procedures, many and possibly most, FUO's
prove to be caused by some sort of infection (possibly tuberculosis,
gonorrhea, appendicitis, abscessed teeth, fungus, or sinusitis to name but a
few), certain virus-caused illnesses, tumors, connective tissue diseases
(partial list includes:  lupus, rheumatic fever, and rheumatoid arthritis),
endocrine diseases (certain thyroid malfunctions among them), alcohol, drugs
(both those prescribed to treat other conditions and those that are illegal),
and/or psychological conditions.
     Among people most prone to FUO's are:  the elderly, travelers, recent
immigrants, homosexuals, patients who have undergone surgery recently, those
at risk for AIDS, and those who bodies cannot fight disease in a normal way
because of illness or treatment (such as cancer and chemotherapy).
     Nevertheless, whatever the reasons, prolonged fevers are serious and are
cause for concern.  Young patients who are otherwise healthy, but with fevers
slightly above his/her normal range that continue for sometime for no known
reason even after a full series of diagnostic tests, usually do relatively
well in spite of their FUO's.  Some of their fevers disappear in time; in
others, fevers continue intermittently without developing into a serious
disease.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
