Evaluation and management of the febrile infant in the emergency department.
Treating the febrile infant strikes fear in all of us. The source of fever in a very young infant may be a serious bacterial infection. A thorough physical examination is just the beginning of a complete evaluation of a febrile infant. This article discusses appropriate testing, treatment, and disposition of these patients. Within the age group addressed in this article, diagnosis and treatment of febrile neonates (i.e. age < 1 month) are the least controversial. Febrile neonates warrant thorough evaluation, complete diagnostic testing, and aggressive inpatient treatment with i.v. antibiotics. Management of infants between 1-3 months of age may be guided by clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations. In infants above 3 months of age, the clinical assessment can direct regarding laboratory testing and treatment in most of the cases.
Krishnan
Sankaran
S
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. krish1p@yahoo.com
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010343:Patient Admission; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents