[Bacteremia in febrile children].

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Context:

• Bacteremia in young children with fever is a concern due to potential serious complications like meningitis.
• Previous research suggests a low incidence but significant risk in specific pediatric populations.
• The study focuses on febrile children presenting to an emergency department without apparent serious illness or viral infection.

Purpose:

• To determine the incidence of bacteremia in febrile children aged under 15 in the Taipei area.
• To evaluate the predictive value of white blood cell (WBC) count and body temperature for bacteremia in this population.
• To identify common pathogens causing bacteremia in different pediatric age groups.

Summary:

• A study of 300 febrile children (body temperature >= 39°C) in Taipei found an overall bacteremia incidence of 2% (6/300).
• Incidence was highest in neonates (13%) and infants aged 1 month to 1 year (5%), with pathogens including Group D Streptococcus, Streptococcus viridans, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella species.
• Neither elevated white blood cell count nor high body temperature demonstrated predictive value for bacteremia in the studied children.

Impact:

• This research highlights the low incidence of bacteremia in febrile children who appear well, challenging the utility of routine WBC counts and temperature for prediction.
• Findings suggest that clinical assessment may be more crucial than simple laboratory markers in identifying bacteremia risk in this age group.
• The study provides valuable epidemiological data on bacteremia pathogens in Taiwanese children, aiding in targeted treatment strategies.