What does PUO mean in BRITISH MEDICINE
Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO) is a medical term used to describe any fever with an unknown cause and the inability of doctors to diagnose its origin. It has also been referred to as Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO), unexplained fever or febrile illness. A fever is a body temperature greater than 38 degrees Celsius. PUO occurs when after at least two weeks, a doctor is unable to determine the cause of the fever even after running laboratory tests and imaging studies.
PUO meaning in British Medicine in Medical
PUO mostly used in an acronym British Medicine in Category Medical that means Pyrexia of Unknown Origin
Shorthand: PUO,
Full Form: Pyrexia of Unknown Origin
For more information of "Pyrexia of Unknown Origin", see the section below.
Causes
The causes for PUO can be split into three categories; infection, malignancy and other miscellaneous diseases including autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Infections are by far the most common cause for PUO, with bacterial infections like tuberculosis being the most frequent diagnosis. Other viruses, parasites and fungi can also be responsible for PUO. In rare cases, cancers such as lymphoma can be the cause of the fever, particularly if it returns after treatment with antibiotics. Finally many other diseases can present with PUO including some rare autoimmune disorders like Still’s Disease or Takayasu’s Arteritis that affect blood vessels in different parts of the body.
Diagnosis
When diagnosing patients with PUO, doctors must take into consideration possible underlying factors such as age, medical history and environmental exposure to infectious agents in order to narrow down their diagnosis list. To help identify potential sources of infection it is important for doctors to obtain a detailed history from their patients on possible exposures like travel abroad or contact with animals or individuals with known infections in addition to cultural practices that may increase risk such as injections received outside hospital settings. The patient should also undergo physical examination where attention should be given to signs and symptoms suggestive of an underlying condition such as splenomegaly suggestive of malaria or petechiae from meningococcemia. After this extensive clinical work up further investigations may be needed depending on individual case scenarios which could include blood tests for microorganism identification, imaging studies like plain radiographs or computed tomography scans thus allowing appropriate treatment.
Treatment
Once diagnosis has been made through extensive investigation tailored based on individual factors treated accordingly depending on type/cause/location etc., In general typical management may include antibiotics tailored according to sensitivity profiles, immunosuppressive therapy prescribed to those with auto-immune causes who have not responded well to conventional treatment options or anti-malarial drugs for suspected tropical infective causes among many others.
Essential Questions and Answers on Pyrexia of Unknown Origin in "MEDICAL»BRITMEDICAL"
What is Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO)?
Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO) is a medical condition characterized by a fever lasting longer than 3 weeks without an understood cause. The fever must not be caused by any known infectious or non-infectious agents and must persist after thorough diagnosis.
How do you diagnose PUO?
Diagnosis of PUO is done through various methods such as physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging studies and biopsy. Physical examination includes checking the vital signs and examining for any areas of tenderness or swelling in the body. Laboratory tests are used to assess any underlying infection and check for diseases using blood sampling. Imaging studies like X-rays, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be done to detect any unusual swelling in the body while biopsy may be used to identify an unknown infection in the body tissue sample.
What are the possible causes of PUO?
The possible causes of PUO include unknown virus infections, subacute bacterial endocarditis, tumor related fevers, autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis and certain medications that may result in drug-induced fever. It can also be caused by chronic conditions such as malaria and tuberculosis which have not been diagnosed yet.
Is there a risk factor associated with PUO?
Yes, certain risk factors are associated with the development of pyrexia of unknown origin including if a person has weakened immunity due to HIV/AIDS; if they have recently travelled from another area where there may have been exposure to deadly infections; elderly people who usually have weakened immune system; poor hygiene; drug abuse; being hospitalized frequently; having history of chronic illnesses etc.
Are there any symptoms associated with this condition?
Common signs and symptoms associated with pyrexia of unknown origin include fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, sweating at night etc. depending on what is causing the underlying condition.
Does everyone with a fever present with these symptoms?
Not necessarily as some individuals may not show any other clinical features apart from feeling generally unwell and having an elevated temperature.
How long does it take for Pyrexia of Unknown Origin to develop?
The time taken for PUO to develop depends on the underlying cause but usually lasts more than 3 weeks before it becomes clinically significant.
How can one get rid of PUO?
Treatment strategies depend upon accurately diagnosing the underlying cause after ruling out other possible causes through comprehensive medical evaluation. Once an underlying cause has been identified appropriate treatment strategies can then be employed accordingly which could involve administering antibiotics or antiviral medications for infections or changing certain lifestyle habits or eliminating smoking etc.
Final Words:
Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO) is a medical term used when doctors are unable to determine the cause behind a patient's fever even after two weeks of exhaustive investigations and testing which includes taking medical history into account along side physical examination & imaging studies/laboratory tests .In general typical management may include antibiotics tailored according to sensitivity profiles , immunosuppressive therapy if required & anti-malarial drugs for certain infective causes ..
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