Prolonged fever of unknown cause is a warning sign of several serious health problems. Therefore, patients should see a doctor early for an accurate diagnosis and the most active and effective treatment.
1. What is the prolonged fever of unknown cause?
Fever is a phenomenon in which body temperature increases rapidly due to many diseases. Fevers usually only last for a short period. Prolonged high fever in adults can occur when the body encounters several dangerous diseases.
Prolonged fever is a common syndrome with the following characteristics: The most prominent pathological sign is fever, accompanied by vague symptoms or no symptoms; fever lasts at least 2 weeks without an accurate diagnosis; treatment with antibiotics and antipyretics is ineffective.
Prolonged fever of unknown reason is defined as:
• The patient's body temperature is always above 38.2°C regardless of the measurement time;
• The fever lasts for at least 3 weeks;
• Clinical and paraclinical tests have been performed within 1 week of hospitalization but the cause has not been found.
Diagnosing prolonged fever is sometimes very complicated even in conditions equipped with modern technical means.
The common cause of prolonged fever of unknown reason is infection (tuberculosis, mononucleosis, cat scratch fever, Lyme disease, etc.). In some research, about 20% of cases of fever of unknown cause are due to cancer, mainly leukemia, bile duct cancer, liver cancer, and kidney cancer. About 20% of fever cases with unknown reasons are determined to be due to acute endocarditis, valvulitis, etc. Sometimes, antibiotics are the reason causing prolonged fever of unknown cause.
2. Symptoms accompanied by persistent fever of unknown cause
Symptoms associated with unexplained persistent fever
In addition to a fever lasting more than 3 weeks, the patient may also experience the following symptoms:
• Sweating, chills;
• Low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath;
• Headache, stiff neck, mental dysfunction;
• Sore throat, cough;
• Muscle pain;
• Cough, sinus congestion;
• Loss of appetite, fatigue, pale skin.
3. When should patients see a doctor for a prolonged fever of unknown cause?
Cases where people should see a doctor for a fever include:
• Having the above symptoms;
• The fever lasts more than 3 days, especially when there are no other accompanying signs;
• In patients with diabetes, heart valve problems, HIV infection, or immune-related diseases: patients should see a doctor even if they have a prolonged mild fever and are tired;
• For infants under 3 months old: If they have a fever of 38°C or higher, they should see a doctor immediately;
• For children from 3 to 36 months old, they should see a doctor if their body temperature is 38.8°C or higher, the fever lasts more than 3 days, a rash accompanies the fever or the fever is above 37.7°C with loss of appetite.
Patients with a prolonged fever should see a doctor early to be assigned clinical tests to help detect the disease early and treat it effectively.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures the professional quality of doctors and modern equipment systems but also stands out with comprehensive and professional examination, consultation, and treatment services; a civilized, polite, safe, and sterile medical space will be provided.
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