Nevertheless, our approach to FUO is still largely influenced by the original definition proposed by Petersdorf and Beesom in 1961 1,2: fever higher than 101 ✯ (38.3 ✬) on several occasions lasting at least 3 weeks with uncertain diagnosis after 1 week of study in the hospital. FUO epidemiology has changed over time due to the sophistication of diagnostic tools, changes in disease patterns, more immunocompromised patients in cancer treatment and transplantation settings, and the increased complexity of intensive care.
Wright, DO, MPH, “fascinated and frustrated clinicians since the early days of thermometry.” 1 This is why, as infectious diseases physicians, we enjoy diving into our patients’ histories and following clues to put together a story that can lead to a diagnosis. Fever of unknown origin (FUO) has, in the words of William F.
