Table 2

Characteristics of patients with fever of unknown origin by types of final diagnosis

Variables*Final diagnosis
TotalInfection†Malignancy†NIID†Other†Unknown†
ComorbidityYes8816 (18.2%)17 (19.3%)26 (29.5%)10 (11.4%)19 (21.6%)
No528 (15.4%)5 (9.6%)21 (40.4%)7 (13.5%)11 (21.2%)
Subjective symptoms
 HeadacheYes233 (13.0%)1 (4.3%)9 (39.1%)4 (17.4%)6 (26.1%)
No11620 (17.2%)21 (18.1%)39 (33.6%)12 (10.3%)24 (20.7%)
 Chest painYes31 (33.3%)0 (0%)1 (33.3%)0 (0%)1 (33.3%)
No13622 (16.2%)22 (16.2%)46 (33.8%)17 (12.5%)29 (21.3%)
 Respiratory symptomsYes248 (33.3%)5 (20.8%)2 (8.3%)4 (16.7%)5 (20.7%)
No11616 (13.8%)17 (14.7%)46 (39.7%)13 (11.2%)24 (21.6%)
 Gastrointestinal symptomsYes215 (23.8%)4 (19.0%)3 (14.3%)2 (9.5%)7 (33.3%)
No11919 (16.0%)18 (15.1%)44 (37.0%)15 (12.6%)23 (19.3%)
 Stomach acheYes142 (14.3%)3 (21.4%)5 (35.7%)2 (14.3%)2 (14.3%)
No12521 (16.8%)19 (15.2%)42 (33.6%)15 (12.0%)28 (22.4%)
 ArthralgiaYes445 (11.4%)2 (4.5%)27 (61.4%)4 (9.2%)6 (13.6%)
No9518 (18.9%)20 (21.1%)21 (22.1%)12 (12.6%)24 (25.3%)
 Muscle painYes192 (10.5%)0 (0%)12 (63.2%)1 (5.3%)4 (21.1%)
No11921 (17.6%)21 (17.6%)36 (30.3%)15 (12.6%)26 (21.8%)
 Lymph node enlargementYes152 (13.3%)3 (20.0%)3 (20.0%)5 (33.3%)2 (13.3%)
No12521 (16.8%)19 (15.2%)45 (36.0%)12 (9.6%)28 (22.4%)
 RashYes322 (6.3%)6 (18.8%)13 (40.6%)5 (15.6%)6 (18.8%)
No10922 (20.2%)16 (14.7%)35 (32.1%)12 (11.0%)24 (22.0%)
 Diagnostic evaluation
 WBC‡Yes14124 (17.0%)22 (15.6%)48 (34.0%)17 (12.1%)30 (21.3%)
 CRP‡Yes14124 (15.6%)22 (15.6%)48 (34.0%)17 (12.1%)30 (21.3%)
 ESRYes11514 (12.2%)20 (17.4%)40 (34.8%)12 (10.4%)29 (25.2%)
No2610 (38.5%)2 (7.7%)8 (30.8%)5 (19.2%)1 (3.8%)
 ProcalcitoninYes548 (14.8%)7 (13.0%)20 (37.0%)6 (11.1%)13 (24.1%)
No8716 (18.4%)15 (17.2%)28 (32.2%)11 (12.6%)17 (19.5%)
 Blood cultureYes12523 (18.4%)18 (14.4%)42 (33.6%)13 (10.4%)29 (23.2%)
No161 (6.3%)4 (25.0%)6 (37.5%)4 (25.0%)1 (6.3%)
 AutopsyYes61 (16.7%)1 (16.7%)2 (33.3%)0 (0%)2 (33.3%)
No13322 (16.5%)20 (15.0%)46 (34.6%)17 (12.8%)28 (21.1%)
 PETYes444 (9.1%)10 (22.7%)16 (36.4%)3 (6.8%)11 (25.0%)
No9720 (20.6%)12 (12.4%)32 (33.0%)14 (14.4%)19 (19.6%)
 Ga scintigraphyYes402 (5.0%)8 (20.0%)16 (40.0%)3 (7.5%)11 (27.5%)
No10122 (21.8%)14 (13.9%)32 (31.7%)14 (13.9%)19 (18.8%)
  • *Missing data would not be reported.

  • †Percentage was calculated as number of patients who performed examination divided by total patients for each condition.

  • ‡WBC and CRP were performed on all patients.

  • CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Ga, gallium; NIID, non-infectious inflammatory disease; PET, positron emission tomography; WBC, white blood cells count.