Fever of Unknown Origin

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.