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[Etiology of acute fever without source in infants consulting at an emergency department]

Pablo Brockmann V1, Ximena Ibarra G, Ignacia Silva W

  • 1Departamento de Pediatría, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. pbrockmann@gmail.com

Revista Chilena De Infectologia : Organo Oficial De La Sociedad Chilena De Infectologia
|March 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

For infants under 36 months with acute fever of unknown origin (FUO) and well clinical condition, urine analysis and culture are recommended initial diagnostic tests. These help identify common causes like viral infections and urinary tract infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Emergency Medicine

Context:

  • Fever is a common reason for pediatric emergency department visits.
  • Acute fever of unknown origin (FUO) in young children presents diagnostic challenges.

Purpose:

  • To determine the causes of acute FUO in infants under 36 months.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostic tests and clinical decisions for FUO.
  • To guide initial diagnostic strategies in pediatric emergency settings.

Summary:

  • A review of 309 pediatric cases identified probable viral respiratory infections (72%) as the most frequent cause of acute FUO.
  • Urinary tract infections were the second most common cause (7.4%).
  • Urine analysis and culture demonstrated high utility, with leukocyte counts and PCR offering significant negative predictive value for serious infections.

Impact:

  • Recommends urine analysis and culture as the primary diagnostic approach for well-appearing infants with acute FUO.
  • Aims to optimize diagnostic pathways, potentially reducing unnecessary investigations and treatments.
  • Contributes to evidence-based guidelines for managing fever in young children.
Abstract

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