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Persistent crying as predominant manifestation of sepsis in infants and newborns
J Ruiz-Contreras1, L Urquía, R Bastero
1Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Infant sepsis can initially present as unexplained crying, potentially delaying diagnosis. Always consider sepsis in the differential diagnosis for excessive infant crying before other symptoms appear.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Acute unexplained crying in infants can indicate serious underlying conditions.
- Early recognition of severe illness is crucial for timely intervention.
Observation:
- Six infants presented with excessive crying as the primary symptom of sepsis.
- This crying preceded other clinical signs of sepsis by 2 to 10 hours.
Findings:
- Sepsis was the underlying cause of unexplained crying in these infants.
- Diagnostic delays occurred in two cases initially misdiagnosed as infant colic.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers should include sepsis in the differential diagnosis for acute infant crying.
- Prompt recognition of sepsis can prevent delayed treatment and improve outcomes.
Abstract:
Acute episodes of unexplained crying in infants may be due to serious and even life-threatening conditions. We present six infants in whom excessive crying was the predominant initial manifestation of sepsis for a period of time that ranged from 2 to 10 hours, before other symptoms or signs became evident. This led to a diagnostic delay in two patients who were considered initially to have infant colic. Sepsis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute unexplained crying in infants.