FEVER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN

The causes of fever in a child can vary from minor brief illnesses to life-threatening infectious, malignant, or autoimmune diseases. The ph ysician often has to evaluate children with fevers of as yet undiagnos ed cause lasting fewer than 2 weeks, in whom it is important to determ ine whether localizing findings are present. Fever without localizing signs and fevers complicating chronic disease and resulting from speci fic localized infection are considered in the sections concerning infe ctious causes, immunodeficiency diseases, and rheumatic diseases. The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the child with both prolonged fever and fever of unknown origin are then discussed, with emphasis o n rheumatic diseases.