Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Fever and petechiae in children.

R C Baker1, J H Seguin, N Leslie

  • 1Division of Ambulatory and Community Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229.

Pediatrics
|December 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Exploring the opportunity for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and precision dose antimicrobials in an outpatient antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service: a prospective observational study.

The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy·2026
Same author

Formation of Hydrogen Peroxide by Meat Starter Cultures.

Journal of food protection·2019
Same author

Fermented Mechanically Deboned Poultry Meat and Survival of Staphylococcus aureus.

Journal of food protection·2019
Same author

Lactic Acid Bacteria as an Antispoilage and Safety Factor in Cooked, Mechanically Deboned Poultry Meat.

Journal of food protection·2019
Same author

Re: Letter to the Editor of Public Health in response to 'The relationships among physical activity, sedentary behaviour, obesity, and quitting behaviours within a cohort of smokers in California'.

Public health·2018
Same author

Planning to halve Gram-negative bloodstream infection: getting to grips with healthcare-associated Escherichia coli bloodstream infection sources.

The Journal of hospital infection·2018
Same journal

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Pediatric Death in the United States: 2016-2025.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

Averting the Unthinkable: Immunization to Prevent Childhood Deaths From Influenza.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

Severe Postoperative Hypernatremia in an Adolescent Following Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

Barriers to Implementing SMART for Asthma in Pediatric Primary Care.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

Blood Lead Testing Among Children Enrolled in Medicaid.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

From Screening to Support: Crafting Social Needs Response Systems That Work for Families.

Pediatrics·2026
See all related articles

Meningococcal disease presents with fever and petechiae. Invasive bacterial infections, including meningococcal disease, show distinct clinical and laboratory signs compared to less severe illnesses.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Fever and petechiae in children can indicate serious infections.
  • Differentiating invasive bacterial disease from less severe conditions is crucial for timely treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify clinical and laboratory predictors of invasive bacterial disease in patients presenting with fever and petechiae.
  • To distinguish meningococcal disease and other serious bacterial infections from viral or non-bacteremic conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 190 patients with fever and petechiae over one year.
  • Clinical assessment, including physical examination and signs of meningeal irritation.
  • Laboratory investigations: peripheral white blood cell count, absolute band form count, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Meningococcal disease was diagnosed in 7% of patients; Streptococcus pyogenes was the most common bacterial association.
  • Patients with invasive bacterial disease (Group I) exhibited more severe illness, meningeal signs, and petechiae predominantly on lower extremities.
  • Elevated white blood cell count, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid, and increased absolute band forms were associated with increased risk of invasive bacterial disease.

Conclusions:

  • No single test reliably identifies all serious invasive bacterial infections.
  • Certain clinical findings (e.g., petechiae distribution) and laboratory values (WBC, band forms, CSF) increase the suspicion for invasive bacterial disease.
  • Normal laboratory values in a non-ill appearing child or specific symptoms like sore throat in older children may indicate a lower risk of serious illness.