Pyrexia of Unknown Origin Flashcards
What is a fever?
Elevation of body temperature above normal (37oC)
What is the variation of normal body temperature?
Normal body temperature has variation up to 0.8oC daily, being low in early morning and high in early evening
Fever is a normal part of what?
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
What does SIRS stand for?
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
What is a pyrogen?
Substances that cause fever
What are examples of pyrogens?
- Endogenous
- Cytokines
- Exogenous
- Endotoxins from G-ve bacteria
What do pyrogens act on?
Hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre to cause reduced heat loss and hence fever
What does PUO stand for?
Pyrexia of unknown origin
What is pyrexia of unknown origin?
Pyrexia with no diagnosis after:
- 3 outpatient visits or
- 3 days in hospital or
- One week of outpatient investigation
What are the different classes of PUO?
- Classical PUO
- Nosocomial PUO
- Develops in hospital, undiagnosed after 3 days
- Neutropenic PUO
- Undiagnosed fever in patient with neutrophils <500/mm3
- HIV associated PUO
- Fever in patient with HIV present and undiagnosed for more than 3 days in an inpatient or 4 weeks as outpatient
What is nosocomial PUO?
- Develops in hospital, undiagnosed after 3 days
What is neutropenic PUO?
- Undiagnosed fever in patient with neutrophils <500/mm3
What is HIV associated PUO?
- Fever in patient with HIV present and undiagnosed for more than 3 days in an inpatient or 4 weeks as outpatient
What are some causes of classical PUO?
- Infection
- Malignancy
- Collagen (inflammatory)
- Other
What are the most common causes of HIV associated PUO?
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Mycobacterium ovium
- Unknown