Pyrexia of unknown origin and its aetiology in Pakistan. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akhtar, Waheed; Awan, Sobia; Ishaq, Uzma; Malik, Asmara; Malik, Jahanzeb; Zaidi, Syed Muhammad Jawad
• Is Part Of: Tropical doctor. Volume 52:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 567
• Page End: 571
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: malaria < disease -- tuberculosis < disease -- fungal infection < disease; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing Countries -- Periodicals; Tropical Medicine -- Periodicals; Tropische geneeskunde; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1177/00494755221096902
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0049-4755

Abstract

Pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) and its aetiology vary considerably according to geography. We conducted a retrospective study to update our knowledge of PUO in Pakistan. PUO was defined as a febrile illness of >3 weeks' duration, a temperature of >38.3°C, and >3 outpatient visits or 3 days' hospitalization. Infection was the cause in 47.1%, malignancy in 23.1%, noninfectious inflammatory disease in 21.8%, miscellaneous causes in 1.2%, and in 6.8%, the cause of the fever was not found.