children s health issues
Fever in Infants and Children
Testing for Chronic Fever
For chronic fever, tests are often done. If doctors suspect a particular disorder, tests for that disorder are done. If the cause is unclear, screening tests are done. Screening tests include a Complete blood count , urinalysis and culture, and blood tests to check for inflammation. Tests for inflammation include the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Other tests doctors sometimes do when there is no clear cause include stool tests, blood cultures or tests of antibody levels in the blood to detect bacteria or viruses, tuberculosis skin test or interferon-gamma release assay, chest x-rays, computed tomography (CT) of the sinuses, and bone scans. Rarely, fevers persist, and doctors cannot identify the cause even after extensive testing. This type of fever is called Fever of unknown origin (FUO) . Children with a fever of unknown origin may require additional testing and evaluation. 