The micro-erythrocyte sedimentation rate as a screening test for bacteraemia in young children with non-focal infections.
The micro-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (micro-ESR) was evaluated in 349 patients without focal signs of infection with bacteraemia, bacteraemia/malaria, malaria (218) and fever of undetermined origin(100). There were significant differences between the diagnoses in their mean micro-ESR uncorrected for anaemia (F ratio = 3.66, p = 0.013 for one way analysis of variance). The sensitivity of uncorrected micro-ESR > 20mm/hr for bacteraemia was moderate (53%) and specificity was low (32%); for bacteraemia/malaria sensitivity was high (88%) but specificity was also low (33%). The positive predictive value of micro-ESR > 20mm/hr was low for bacteraemia (3%) and bacteraemia/malaria (6%) whereas the negative predictive value was high for bacteraemia (94%) and very high for bacteraemia/malaria (98%). We conclude that a low micro-ESR (< 20mm/hr) may be helpful in ruling out bacteraemia, especially bacteraemia/malaria, in young febrile children without focal signs.
Department of Paediatrics College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State Nigeria.
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Akpede
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Abiodun
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity