Occult dental infection as a cause of fever of obscure origin.

Three patients with prolonged unexplained fevers were ultimately found to have deep-seated dental infection. After initial examination failed to elicit symptoms or signs of dental infection, and extensive in-hospital evaluation was nonproductive, dental consultation with roentgenograms provided the diagnosis. All three patients underwent dental extractions with periapical or peridontal debridement; following a brief postoperative febrile period, all three responded with defervescence, without subsequent recurrence of fever. These cases emphasize the importance of periapical and peridontal infection as causes of fever of obscure origin. The pathogenesis, characteristics and bacteriology of periapical abscess are discussed.