Fever that lasts long can be dangerous - Know why.docx

1. Fever that lasts long can be dangerous: Know why? Fever is a common condition that is characterized by an elevated body temperature. Most of the time, this is due to your immune cells fighting against some infection. However, when it lasts long, it might be a sign of a severe problem. When fever lasts longer (more than normal), your doctor may call it fever of unknown origin or FUO. What exactly is FUO? Fever of unknown origin or FUO is a rectal temperature of greater than 101° F (38.3° C) that occurs frequently with no particular explanation and lasts for more than 20 days. It is of four types:  Classic FUO: A raised body temperature with no identified reason for more than 3 weeks even after hospital evaluation.  Healthcare-associated FUO: A raised body temperature with no evidence of infection in patients who are already receiving acute care.  Immune-deficient FUO: A raised body temperature caused by neutropenia or some other immunodeficiency condition. This is because of the Cancer and Fever connection (related to the effects of chemotherapy medicines on immunity).  HIV-related FUO: A raised body temperature caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection for more than 3 weeks. What can cause FUO?

2. Non-infectious causes of FUO include:  Inflammation of the arteries’ lining  Rheumatoid arthritis  Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis  Antiphospholipid syndrome (increased risk of blood clots) Infectious causes of FUO include:  Tuberculosis  HIV infection  Tooth abscess Malignant causes of FUO include:  Lymphoma (a type of blood cancer)  Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer)  Myeloproliferative disorder (cancer of the bone marrow)  Acute myelogenous leukemia (a type of leukemia)  Multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer)  Breast cancer  Liver cancer  Cancer of the pancreas  Colon cancer  Cancer metastases to the brain Furthermore, there can be other causes also. In some cases, even cancer treatment and medicines can lead to such a condition. But, this depends upon the types of therapy and disease. For instance, cancer treatment in Thailand can differ from that of other places in the same region because of the common genetic mutations diagnosed in a particular area. Does FUO show any symptoms? Fever of unknown origin might not have a valid cause but can show a number of symptoms. The following are some of them. Make sure to contact your health professional if you experience any of these or other severe problems for a longer period.  Sweating  Chills  Headache  Body pain  Sore throat  Fatigue  Cough  Skin rash  Sinus congestion To avoid any risk or complication, keep a record of your fever if it stays for more than 4-5 days and see a doctor. Source: http://writeus.me/fever-that-lasts-long-can-be-dangerous-know-why/