Undiagnosed undifferentiated fever in Far North Queensland, Australia: a retrospective study
Objectives: This study aimed to describe the causes of acute undifferentiated fever (AUF) and to develop a robust definition of undiagnosed undifferentiated fever (UUDF). Methods: This was a retrospective study of AUF over 3 years (2008–2011) in an Australian tertiary hospital. Request for laborator...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2014-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971214015501 |
| Summary: | Objectives: This study aimed to describe the causes of acute undifferentiated fever (AUF) and to develop a robust definition of undiagnosed undifferentiated fever (UUDF).
Methods: This was a retrospective study of AUF over 3 years (2008–2011) in an Australian tertiary hospital. Request for laboratory investigation of one or more infectious agents was used as the search tool.
Results: A total of 340 patients with AUF, aged 15–65 years, were identified over the study period. A final diagnosis was made in 147 (43.2%) patients, dengue fever being the most frequent. The aetiology of fever was not determined in 193 (56.8%) patients. Elevations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and hepatic aminotransferase levels were common in these patients; two patients died. The characteristics of UUDF were fever for ≤21 days and failure to reach a diagnosis after clinical evaluation and specific laboratory investigations.
Conclusion: The high burden of UUDF argues for a better diagnostic approach to fever that is capable of identifying a broad range of infectious agents. |
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| ISSN: | 1201-9712 1878-3511 |