Pyrexia of Unkown Origin

Question 1

What is pyrexia of unkown origin?

Answer 1

Pyrexia > 3 weeks with no indentified cause after evaluation in hospital for 3 days or >/= 3 outpatient visits

Question 2

What is the definition of a nosocomial PUO?

Answer 2

Patient hsopitalised for > 48hrs with no infection at admission, and no infection found despite 3 days investigation

Question 3

What is HIV PUO?

Answer 3

Pyrexia in HIV infection lasting 3 days as an inpatient or > 4 weeks as outpatient

Question 4

What investigaitons would you consider doing in someone with PUO?

Answer 4

• Bloods - FBC, U+E’s, :LFTs, CRP, ESR, Electrophoresis, LDH, CK, ANA, ANCA, RF, HIV, Malaria, TB assay, BC x3, hepatitis, CMV, EBV
• Orifices - Sputum, urine, stool, swab, CSF
• Imaging - CXR, Abdo/pelvis XR, venous doppler, MRI, CTPA, ECHO