Unexplained pyrexia in old age

Authors: Charlton, C. and Allen, S.C.

Journal: CME Journal Geriatric Medicine

Volume: 12

Issue: 1

Pages: 27-32

ISSN: 1475-1453

Abstract:

The cause of a raised body temperature in old age is not always discovered by the initial clinical assessment. Patients with unexplained pyrexia in old age (UPOA), some of whom meet the stricter definition for pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO), require careful further questioning, investigation and re-examination to discover the cause. In these cases a treatable condition will often be found. The majority will have a common condition presenting in an atypical manner; others a rare disease or an undiscovered cause. Most examples of UPOA are due to deep infections, neoplasms and auto-immune disorders. © 2010 Rila Publications Ltd.

Source: Scopus