Year: 1997
Type: article
Abstract: All reported series of fever of unknown origin were reviewed to determine the frequency of tuberculosis as the final diagnosis in this syndrome.Thirty-seven series from 1930 to 1995 were identified, comprising 3056 patients.Tuberculosis accounted for 7.9% of all diagnoses.Although methods of diagnoses changed over the period reviewed, rates of tuberculosis were relatively stable.Of 1366 patients with specific information regarding site of tuberculosis, extrapulmonary tuberculosis accounted for 4.8% of all cases and pulmonary tuberculosis 2.3%.Tuberculosis continues to be the final diagnosis in a significant proportion of patients with fever of unknown origin.Consideration should be given to empirical antituberculous therapy in persons with fever of unknown origin and a thorough but unrevealing workup.
Author: Kent A. Sepkowitz
Institution: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,900
OpenAlex ID: W2042344731