Fever of Undetermined Origin in Elderly Patients: Causes and Clinical Characteristics

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University,Egypt

2 Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

3 Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Abstract

Background and study aim: Fever of Undetermined Origin (FUO) continues to be a diagnostic challenge particularly in elderly patients. Reporting local experience is important in guiding clinicians about the epidemiologic pattern in different region. This study aimed to determine causes, clinical presentations and the laboratory findings of FUO among elderly persons ≥ 65 years in comparison with younger patients.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 54 patients during one year duration from the period between January 2015 and January 2016. Patients were divided into two equal groups of 27 patients who were suffering from FUO. The first one (G1) consisted of elderly patients ≥ 65 years and the second group (G2) consisted of patients younger than the age of 65. All patients in this study were subjected to complete history taking adequate physical examinations in addition to routine laboratory investigations and specific investigations (according to case).
Conclusion: Urinary tract infection, chronic calcular cholecystitis and malignancy are important causes for FUO in elderly patients followed by miscellaneous causes as post chemotherapy and drug fever. Non-elderly group showed statistical significant increase in typhoid fever, HIV infection, infective endocarditis, intra-abdominal abscess and auto immune disorders when compared to elderly group.

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