Related Experiment Videos
High fever. Experience in private practice
Abstract:
Experience with confirmed high fever, 40 C (104 F) or more, in a private practice during 14 years is presented. The records of 1,500 patients covering 8,000 patient years disclosed only 108 confirmed episodes of high fever. Eleven diagnostic categories included 149 diagnoses. Fourteen of 43 roentgenographic examinations yielded positive findings, including two cases of pneumonia not detected on physical examination. Two of six stool cultures yielded specific enteric pathogens. Convulsions occurred in 12 of the 108 episodes of high fever, and recurred only once in one child. There were no deaths in this series of children with high fevers. Only one diagnosis, pneumonia, was significantly more frequent in confirmed high fever than in unconfirmed high fever. Lastly, the ability of a group of mothers to read thermometers set at three different temperatures proved to be surprisingly good.
Insights
High fever (40°C/104°F+) in children is uncommon, with pneumonia being a key diagnosis. Mothers demonstrated good thermometer reading skills, aiding accurate fever assessment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- This study analyzes 14 years of private practice data on high fever episodes in children.
- It examines diagnostic categories, diagnostic yields, and associated symptoms for confirmed high fever cases.
Observation:
- 1,500 patients over 8,000 patient-years revealed 108 confirmed high fever episodes (≥40°C/104°F).
- Diagnostic categories included 149 diagnoses; pneumonia was significantly more frequent in confirmed high fever cases.
- Roentgenography identified pneumonia missed on physical exam; stool cultures detected enteric pathogens.
Findings:
- Convulsions occurred in 12% of high fever episodes with low recurrence.
- No deaths were reported in the series.
- Mothers showed high accuracy in reading thermometers at various temperatures.
Implications:
- Highlights the diagnostic value of imaging and cultures for persistent high fevers.
- Suggests pneumonia is a critical diagnosis in pediatric high fever.
- Emphasizes the importance of accurate parental fever monitoring.