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Zhou Y, Shen N, Luo L, Liu Y, Cao Q. Clinical and metagenomic characteristics of lymphadenopathy related to fever of unknown origin in children. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03187-3. [PMID: 38678116 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03187-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosis of fever of unknown origin remains challenge for pediatricians. Lymphadenopathy is a separate entity that mainly originates from infection or malignancy. METHODS 168 patients with FUO accompanied by lymphadenectasis were reviewed. 33 lymph node tissue samples were examined by mNGS. Differences in clinical characteristics were compared among different disease groups. The value of mNGS in diagnosing and improving the clinical situation was assessed. RESULTS Multivariate analysis revealed that hepatosplenomegaly and LDH levels were associated with infectious diseases. Arthralgia was correlated with non-infectious inflammatory diseases. Weight loss and a node located in supraclavicular region may indicate neoplastic diseases. mNGS-positive rate was 60.60%, higher than that obtained with traditional methods. Treatment for 3/4 patients was adjusted according to the pathogen detected by mNGS, and antibiotics uses was discontinued or degraded in over 1/2 of the patients according to mNGS results. CONCLUSIONS Clinical characteristics of children with lymphadenopathy related to FUO have limited diagnostic value for distinguishing different kinds of diseases, while mNGS of lymph node tissue serves as a useful tool for identifying infectious diseases, especially those caused by rare pathogens. mNGS results can lead to not only adjustments in targeted treatment but also further confirmation of underlying diseases. IMPACT STATEMENT 1. The clinical features of children with FUO and lymphadenopathy differ according to disease group,although multivariate analysis indicated little diagnostic value for these features. 2. mNGS on lymph node tissue from children with FUO may serve as a efficient tool for distinguishing infectious diseases from other diseases. This is especially useful when a diagnosis cannot be determined with traditional methods. 3. mNGS targeted treatment can be administered in a timely manner and some underlying diseases can be indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Shen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijuan Luo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yandi Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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2
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Ryan K. Fever of Unknown Origin. Med Clin North Am 2024; 108:79-92. [PMID: 37951657 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2023.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Fever of unknown origin in adolescents is a challenging disease state for which potential underlying etiology can include infectious, non-infectious inflammatory, and malignancy processes. Careful and thorough history (including exposure history), serial examination, and targeted laboratory and imaging testing is critical for these patients. In adolescents in which an etiology is discovered, infectious etiology remains the most prevalent, followed by non-infectious inflammatory diseases. In patients with non-diagnostic overall reassuring work up, the prognosis is typically self-limiting and favorable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Ryan
- Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatric, Medical College of Wisconsin & Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Suite C450, 999 North 92 nd Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53226, USA.
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Trapani S, Fiordelisi A, Stinco M, Resti M. Update on Fever of Unknown Origin in Children: Focus on Etiologies and Clinical Approach. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 11:20. [PMID: 38255334 PMCID: PMC10814770 DOI: 10.3390/children11010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be caused by four etiological categories of diseases. The most common cause of FUO in children is represented by infections, followed by inflammatory conditions and neoplastic causes; a decreasing quote remains still without diagnosis. Despite the fact that several diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have been proposed since the first definition of FUO, none of them has been fully validated in pediatric populations. A focused review of the patient's history and a thorough physical examination may offer helpful hints in suggesting a likely diagnosis. The diagnostic algorithm should proceed sequentially, and invasive testing should be performed only in select cases, possibly targeted by a diagnostic suspect. Pioneering serum biomarkers have been developed and validated; however, they are still far from becoming part of routine clinical practice. Novel noninvasive imaging techniques have shown promising diagnostic accuracy; however, their positioning in the diagnostic algorithm of pediatric FUO is still not clear. This narrative review aims to provide a synopsis of the existent literature on FUO in children, with its major causes and possible diagnostic workup, to help the clinician tackle the complex spectrum of pediatric FUO in everyday clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Trapani
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Pediatric Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.F.); (M.R.)
| | - Adele Fiordelisi
- Pediatric Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.F.); (M.R.)
| | | | - Massimo Resti
- Pediatric Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.F.); (M.R.)
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Watts S, Diaz M, Teller C, Hamby T, Guirola R, Perez M, Eames G, Howrey R, Rios A, Trinkman H, Ray A. Pediatric Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Formation of an Interdisciplinary HLH Working Group at a Single Institution. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2023; 45:e328-e333. [PMID: 36729645 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Fever of unknown origin is a common presentation in children with an extensive differential diagnosis that encompasses multiple specialties. From a hematologic standpoint, the differential includes hyperinflammatory syndrome, such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), among others. Due to the rarity of HLH and nonspecific symptoms at initial presentation, specialists are often consulted later in the disease progression, which complicates disease evaluation further. Cook Children's Medical Center (CCMC) has recently developed a multidisciplinary histiocytic disorder group that is often consulted on cases presenting with fever of unknown origin to increase awareness and potentially not miss new HLH cases. In this study, we examine the clinical presentation and workup of 13 patients consulted by the HLH work group at a single institution and describe the clinical course of 2 patients diagnosed with HLH. The goal of this project was to describe the formation of a disease-specific team and the development of a stepwise diagnostic approach to HLH. A review of the current diagnostic criteria for HLH may be warranted given findings of markers such as soluble IL2 receptor and ferritin as nonspecific and spanning multiple disciplines including rheumatology, infectious disease, and hematology/oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley Watts
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center
| | | | | | - Tyler Hamby
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center
- Research Operations
| | | | | | | | | | - Ana Rios
- Pediatric Infectious Disease, Cook Children's Health Care System, Fort Worth, TX
| | | | - Anish Ray
- Departments of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
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Zhang P, Zhang ZH, Liang J, Shen DY, Li J, Wang D, Jin FF, Song H, Zhang JY, Xu WQ, Tang YM, Xu XJ. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the diagnosis of fever of unknown origin in pediatric patients with hematological malignancy. Clin Chim Acta 2022; 537:133-139. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Yachie A. Clinical perspectives and therapeutic strategies: pediatric autoinflammatory disease-a multi-faceted approach to fever of unknown origin of childhood. Inflamm Regen 2022; 42:21. [PMID: 35778759 PMCID: PMC9250222 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-022-00204-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the different etiologies for fever of unknown origin in children, infectious diseases are the most frequent final diagnosis, followed by autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Autoinflammatory diseases are relatively rare among children and are frequently overlooked as differential diagnoses for fever of unknown origin. Once the possibility of a particular autoimmune disease is considered by physicians, the diagnosis might be easily made by a genetic approach because many of autoinflammatory diseases are of monogenic origin. To reach the diagnosis, detailed history-taking, precise physical examinations, and cytokine profiling as well as extensive mutation analysis of candidate genes should be undertaken for febrile children. Such the approach will protect the patients, and their family to undergo “diagnostic odyssey” in which unnecessary and sometimes risky diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are taken. This short review discusses the clinical and laboratory features of familial Mediterranean fever and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, as representative illnesses of monogenic and polygenic autoinflammatory diseases, respectively. Cytokine profiling and mutation analyses both help to understand and decipher the heterogeneous pathologies in both disease categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Yachie
- Division of Medical Safety, Kanazawa University Hospital, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.
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Hu B, Chen TM, Liu SP, Hu HL, Guo LY, Chen HY, Li SY, Liu G. Fever of unknown origin (FUO) in children: a single-centre experience from Beijing, China. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e049840. [PMID: 35296470 PMCID: PMC8928314 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To date, there is no standard diagnostic practice to identify the underlying disease-causing mechanism for paediatric patients suffering from chronic fever without any specific diagnosis, which is one of the leading causes of death in paediatric patients. Therefore, we aimed this retrospective study to analyse medical records of paediatric patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) to provide a preliminary basis for improving the diagnostic categories and facilitate the treatment outcomes. DESIGN A retrospective study. SETTING Beijing Children's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS Clinical data were collected from 1288 children between 1 month and 18 years of age diagnosed with FUO at Beijing Children's Hospital between January 2010 and December 2017. INTERVENTIONS According to the aetiological composition, age, duration of fever and laboratory examination results, the diagnostic strategies were analysed and formulated. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES The statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS V.24.0 platform along with the χ2 test and analysis of variance (p<0.05). RESULTS The duration of fever ranged from 2 weeks to 2 years, with an average of 6 weeks. There were 656 cases (50.9%) of infectious diseases, 63 cases (4.9%) of non-infectious inflammatory diseases (NIIDs), 86 cases (6.7%) of neoplastic diseases, 343 cases (26.6%) caused by miscellaneous diseases and 140 cases (10.9%) were undiagnosed. With increasing age, the proportion of FUO from infectious diseases gradually decreased from 73.53% to 44.21%. NIID was more common in children over 3 years old, and neoplastic diseases mainly occurred from 1 to 6 years of age. Among miscellaneous diseases, the age distribution was mainly in school-aged children over 6 years. Respiratory tract infection was the most common cause of FUO in children, followed by bloodstream infections. Bacterial infection was the most common cause in children with less than 1 year old, while the virus was the main pathogen in children over 1 year old. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of neoplastic diseases and miscellaneous diseases-related diseases still depends mainly on invasive examination. According to our clinical experience, the diagnostic process was formulated based on fever duration and the type of disease. This process can provide a guide for the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric FUO in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Ming Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Ping Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Li Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ling-Yun Guo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - He-Ying Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shao-Ying Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghady Haidar
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh
| | - Nina Singh
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh
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Fever of unknown origin: a retrospective review of pediatric patients from an urban, tertiary care center in Washington, DC. World J Pediatr 2020; 16:177-184. [PMID: 30888665 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-019-00237-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fever of unknown origin (FUO) continues to challenge clinicians to determine an etiology and the need for treatment. This study explored the most common etiologies, characteristics, and average cost of hospitalization for FUO in a pediatric population at an urban, tertiary care hospital in Washington, DC. METHODS Records from patients admitted to Children's National Health System between September 2008 and April 2014 with an admission ICD-9 code for fever (780.6) were reviewed. The charts of patients 2-18 years of age with no underlying diagnosis and a temperature greater than 38.3 ºC for 7 days or more at time of hospitalization were included. Final diagnoses, features of admission, and total hospital charges were abstracted. RESULTS 110 patients qualified for this study. The majority of patients (n = 42, 38.2%) were discharged without a diagnosis. This was followed closely by infection, accounting for 37.2% (n = 41) of patients. Rheumatologic disease was next (n = 16, 14.5%), followed by miscellaneous (n = 6, 5.4%) and oncologic diagnoses (n = 5, 4.5%). The average cost of hospitalization was 40,295 US dollars. CONCLUSIONS This study aligns with some of the most recent publications which report undiagnosed cases as the most common outcome in patients hospitalized with FUO. Understanding that, often no diagnosis is found may reassure patients, families, and clinicians. The cost associated with hospitalization for FUO may cause clinicians to reconsider inpatient admission for diagnostic work-up of fever, particularly given the evidence demonstrating that many patients are discharged without a diagnosis.
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Naito T, Tanei M, Ikeda N, Ishii T, Suzuki T, Morita H, Yamasaki S, Tamura J, Akazawa K, Yamamoto K, Otani H, Suzuki S, Kikuchi M, Ono S, Kobayashi H, Akita H, Tazuma S, Hayashi J. Key diagnostic characteristics of fever of unknown origin in Japanese patients: a prospective multicentre study. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e032059. [PMID: 31748308 PMCID: PMC6886908 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify the key diagnostic features and causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in Japanese patients. DESIGN Multicentre prospective study. SETTING Sixteen hospitals affiliated with the Japanese Society of Hospital General Medicine, covering the East and West regions of Japan. PARTICIPANTS Patient aged ≥20 years diagnosed with classic FUO (axillary temperature≥38.0°C at least twice within a 3-week period, cause unknown after three outpatient visits or 3 days of hospitalisation). A total of 141 cases met the criteria and were recruited from January 2016 to December 2017. INTERVENTION Japanese standard diagnostic examinations. OUTCOME MEASURES Data collected include usual biochemical blood tests, inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive (CRP) protein level, procalcitonin level), imaging results, autopsy findings (if performed) and final diagnosis. RESULTS The most frequent age group was 65-79 years old (mean: 58.6±9.1 years). The most frequent cause of FUO was non-infectious inflammatory disease. After a 6-month follow-up period, 21.3% of cases remained undiagnosed. The types of diseases causing FUO were significantly correlated with age and prognosis. Between patients with and without a final diagnosis, there was no difference in CRP level between patients with and without a final diagnosis (p=0.121). A significant difference in diagnosis of a causative disease was found between patients who did or did not receive an ESR test (p=0.041). Of the 35 patients with an abnormal ESR value, 28 (80%) had causative disease identified. CONCLUSIONS Age may be a key factor in the differential diagnosis of FUO; the ESR test may be of value in the FUO evaluation process. These results may provide clinicians with insight into the management of FUO to allow adequate treatment according to the cause of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Naito
- Department of General Medicine, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mika Tanei
- Department of General Medicine, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Ikeda
- Department of General Medicine, Eiju General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Ishii
- Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan
| | - Tomio Suzuki
- Department of General Medicine, Osaka Medical College Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Morita
- General Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Sho Yamasaki
- General Internal Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Jun'ichi Tamura
- General Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Akazawa
- Internal Medicine, Shonan Fujisawa Tokushukai Hospital, Fujisawa, Japan
| | | | - Hiroshi Otani
- General Medicine, Tachikawa Sogo Hospital, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Suzuki
- Division of General Medicine, Tone Chuo Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Motoo Kikuchi
- Department of General Medicine, Nagoya City West Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shiro Ono
- General Medicine, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan
| | | | - Hozuka Akita
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo Prefectural Tamba Medical Center, Tamba, Japan
| | - Susumu Tazuma
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Jun Hayashi
- Kyushu General Internal Medicine Center, Haradoi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
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Yoshizato R, Koga H. Comparison of initial and final diagnoses in children with acute febrile illness: A retrospective, descriptive study: Initial and final diagnoses in children with acute fever. J Infect Chemother 2019; 26:251-256. [PMID: 31680036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2019.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to elucidate the etiologies and diagnostic errors of early-phase pediatric fever without an obvious cause. METHODS This single-center, retrospective, descriptive study included 1334 febrile children hospitalized at Beppu Medical Center in Japan between 2014 and 2018. Eligibility criteria were age ≤12 years, axillary temperature ≥38.0°C, and fever duration ≤7 days at admission. Initial diagnoses on the day of admission and final diagnoses at defervescence were divided into initial fever with identified source (FIS) and initial fever without source (FWS) and final FIS and final FWS, respectively. The etiology of initial FWS and diagnostic discordance between initial FIS and final FIS were investigated. RESULTS Of the 1334 participants, 94 (7.0%) were diagnosed with initial FWS. Among patients with initial FWS, final diagnoses were confirmed in 40 (43%), including Kawasaki disease in 17, urinary tract infection in 5, bacteremia in 4, exanthem subitum in 3, and the others in 11. Among the 1275 patients diagnosed with final FIS, diagnostic discordances between initial and final diagnoses were observed in 131 patients (10%). The multiple logistic regression analysis identified increased serum C-reactive protein value at admission (odds ratio [OR]: 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.13), exanthem subitum (OR: 409; 95% CI: 119-1399), and Kawasaki disease (OR: 14.3; 95% CI: 8.7-23.3) as independent risk factors for diagnostic discordance. CONCLUSION Exanthem subitum and Kawasaki disease may be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in febrile children with fever duration ≤7 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rin Yoshizato
- Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Beppu Medical Center, 1473 Oaza-Uchikamado, Beppu, Oita, 874-0011, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Koga
- Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Beppu Medical Center, 1473 Oaza-Uchikamado, Beppu, Oita, 874-0011, Japan.
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