title: Clinical Inquiries Received by CDC Regarding Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in Children--United States, July 9, 2014-January 4, 2015.
abstract: The 2014–2015 Ebola virus disease (Ebola) epidemic is the largest in history and represents the first time Ebola has been diagnosed in the United States. On July 9, 2014, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center and established an Ebola clinical consultation service to assist U.S. state and local public health officials and health care providers with the evaluation of suspected cases. CDC reviewed all 89 inquiries received by the consultation service during July 9, 2014– January 4, 2015, about children (persons aged ≤18 years). Most (56 [63%]) children had no identifiable epidemiologic risk factors for Ebola; among the 33 (37%) who did have an epidemiologic risk factor, in every case this was travel from an Ebola-affected country. Thirty-two of these children met criteria for a person under investigation (PUI) because of clinical signs or symptoms. Fifteen PUIs had blood samples tested for Ebola virus RNA by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction; all tested negative. Febrile children who have recently traveled from an Ebola-affected country can be expected to have other common diagnoses, such as malaria and influenza, and in the absence of epidemiologic risk factors for Ebola, the likelihood of Ebola is extremely low. Delaying evaluation and treatment for these other more common illnesses might lead to poorer clinical outcomes. Additionally, many health care providers expressed concerns about whether and how parents should be allowed in the isolation room. While maintaining an appropriate level of vigilance for Ebola, public health officials and health care providers should ensure that pediatric PUIs receive timely triage, diagnosis, and treatment of other more common illnesses, and care reflecting best practices in supporting children’s psychosocial needs.
authors.forename: Alyson B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Elissa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meites
authors.forename: Erica H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Anstey
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: Achala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jayatilleke
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ruben
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koumans
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Oster
authors.forename: Mateusz P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Karwowski
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dziuban
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kirkcaldy
authors.forename: Maleeka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: Stephanie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Griese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006282:Health Personnel; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology