Diagnostic Challenges in Pediatric Fever of Unknown Origin: Combined Role of Ferritin and Fever Duration.

ABSTRACT: Background: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) in children remains a diagnostic challenge due to heterogeneous etiologies. This study investigated the etiological distribution, long-term outcomes of undefined cases, and laboratory predictors that differentiate infectious from non-infectious etiologies. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 87 children (1 month-18 years) hospitalized with fever > 38.3 °C for ≥7 days with no detectable source (2018-2024). Patients were categorized into five groups: infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, miscellaneous, and undefined. Comparisons between these groups were performed in terms of age, laboratory values, and duration of fever using the Kruskal-Wallis test and one-way ANOVA. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and follow-up data were compare

SUBMITTER: Onal P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12651891 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature