Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice
10:47

Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice

Published on: April 14, 2011

Clinical signs predicting severe illness in young infants (<60 days) in Bolivia

Eduardo Mazzi1, Andres E Bartos, John Carlin

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Hospital del Niño (HN) Dr Ovidio Aliaga Uria, La Paz, Bolivia.

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|February 11, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Simple clinical signs like difficulty feeding and fever can help healthcare workers identify young infants needing urgent hospital admission, significantly reducing infant mortality in developing nations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Global Health
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Reducing infant mortality in developing countries relies on identifying severe illness in young infants.
  • Accurate assessment of neonates is crucial for timely medical intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify simple clinical signs and symptoms that predict severe illness requiring hospital admission in infants under two months.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of these signs in resource-limited settings.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 1082 infants under two months presenting to hospitals in La Paz, Bolivia.
  • Nurses evaluated infants for signs and symptoms; physicians independently determined the need for admission.

Main Results:

  • Individual clinical signs showed high specificity (>85%) for identifying severe illness.
  • Difficulty feeding, not feeding well, and fever were strongly associated with the need for urgent hospital management (Odds Ratios >5).
  • Measured temperature ≥ 37.5° C had a sensitivity of 65%.

Conclusions:

  • Clinical signs and symptoms are valuable tools for primary healthcare workers in identifying young infants with serious illnesses.
  • These findings support the integration of these signs into algorithms like the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness for improved infant care in Bolivia and Latin America.

More Related Videos

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat08:27

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat

Published on: October 29, 2014

A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease04:23

A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease

Published on: April 28, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV01:26

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV

Tuberculosis, more commonly referred to as TB, is an infectious disease stemming from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it primarily impacts the lungs, TB can also affect other body areas. Given its severity and global impact, timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for controlling its spread and improving patient outcomes.
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...