Fever in Adults (cont.)
Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. IN THIS ARTICLE
Follow-upMost fevers will go away in a few days with the appropriate treatment. It is important to follow up with the health-care provider to be sure the cause of the fever is treated correctly. This may be done in a few days to weeks after the initial visit, depending on the cause. If symptoms worsen, if the fever continues for more than three days despite treatment, or if the fever lasts longer then a week without treatment, see the doctor immediately. Follow-up is very important especially for people with fevers due to cancer, drug-induced fevers, infectious causes (especially FUOs), or hormone problems, since these people may experience relapses and repeated treatments may be required. Viewer Comments & ReviewsFever in Adults - TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What treatment was effective for your fever? |
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Fever of Unknown Origin »
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) was defined in 1961 by Petersdorf and Beeson as the following: (1) a temperature greater than 38.3°C (101°F) on several occasions, (2) more than 3 weeks' duration of illness, and (3) failure to reach a diagnosis despite one week of inpatient investigation.
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