DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for FUO

Why: i.e. fever, either intermittent or continuous, that lasts for two weeks or more and when routine investigations have failed to reveal a cause.

Why: e.g. intermittent fever of malaria; continuous fever is common with viral infections; remittent fever where temperature returns towards normal for a variable period but is always elevated may occur with pelvic abscess and cancer; undulant fever where bouts of fever for several days are followed by several days of normal temperature occur with brucellosis infection and lymphomas.

Why: overseas travelers or visitors may have special or even exotic infections.

Why: may suggest Lyme disease.

Why: may suggest Brucellosis (from infected cattle or goats) or Psittacosis (from infected birds).

Why: e.g. AIDS, Rheumatic fever (which can be complicated later by subacute bacterial endocarditis), immunodeficiency, cancer.

Why: may suggest post-operative complication e.g. wound infection, aspiration pneumonia, lung collapse, urinary catheter related urinary tract infection, intra-abdominal abscess.

Why: drugs can cause fever, presumably due to hypersensitivity e.g. allopurinol, antihistamines, barbiturates, cephalosporins, cimetidine, methyl dopa, penicillins, isoniazid, phenytoin, procainamide, salicylates, sulphonamides; some drugs can suppress the immune system and increase risk of infections e.g. cancer chemotherapy agents.

Why: may help to determine risk of HIV e.g. AIDS patients pose a special risk for infections including opportunistic infections.

Why: would suggest pyelonephritis, abscess around the kidney or abscess in the prostate.

Why: may suggest pneumonia, lung abscess, bronchiectasis or tuberculosis.

Why: may suggest osteomyelitis.

Why: can help determine focus of infection.

Why: e.g. vaginal, penile, anal, tooth, ear, nasal.

Why: may help determine cause of fever.