title: Return visits to the emergency department among febrile children 3 to 36 months of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was to determine the characteristics of febrile 3- to 36-month-old children who were admitted to the emergency department (ED) with the chief complaint of fever and returned with the same complaint within 72 hours (returning group), compared with age-matched children who did not return to the ED (nonreturning group). Demographics and predischarge evaluation extent were focused on.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the nonreturning group (n = 305), the returning group (n = 92) demonstrated higher mean temperature at home (P = 0.008), longer fever duration (P < 0.0001), and greater pain frequency (P = 0.03). Demographics and predischarge evaluation extent were similar in both groups. Within the returning group, fever duration was longer at the time of the second visit (P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher fever causes higher rate of return visits. Among the investigated groups, pain was the sole differentiating symptom. Further studies should identify patterns that diminish children's ED readmission.
authors: Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, BC Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. adi@hy.health.gov.il
authors: Adi
authors: A
authors: Klein-Kremer
authors: Ran D
authors: RD
authors: Goldman
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014218:Triage; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology