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[Bacteremia in febrile children]

T Y Lin1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Changgeng Yi Xue Za Zhi
|March 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Bacteremia in febrile children under two is uncommon, with a 2% incidence in this study. Neither white blood cell count nor temperature reliably predicted bacteremia in young patients.

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.

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