Bacteremia and bacterial infections in highly febrile children without apparent focus.
To find the incidence of bacteremia and serious bacterial infections in febrile children without an apparent focus of infection, we prospectively studied 100 febrile children aged 1 month-3 years with a rectal temperature > or = 39 degrees C. Ten children had a blood culture positive bacteremia and nine had serology positive for bacteremia; 6 had urinary tract infection, 5 otitis media and 8 meningitis. A diagnosis of non bacterial illness was made in 62 patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacteriologic isolate on blood culture (five) and by serology (eight). TLC > or = 15,000/cu mm m-ESR > or = 25 mm and temperature > or = 39 degrees C had high specificity (95-100%) but low sensitivity for diagnosis of bacteremia.
Singhi
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
Kohli
V
V
Ayyagiri
A
A
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity