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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Published on: December 10, 2013

Fever in respiratory virus infections

A Putto, O Ruuskanen, O Meurman

    American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
    |November 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    High fever is common in children hospitalized with respiratory virus infections like adenovirus and influenza. The fever

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
    • Virology
    • Clinical Microbiology

    Background:

    • Fever is a common symptom in pediatric respiratory infections.
    • Distinguishing viral from bacterial causes can be challenging based on fever alone.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the degree and duration of fever in children hospitalized with specific respiratory viral infections.
    • To compare fever patterns in viral infections with those in serious bacterial infections.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective analysis of case records for 258 children.
    • Inclusion of infections caused by adenovirus, influenza A/B, parainfluenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.
    • Comparison with data from children diagnosed with meningitis, epiglottitis, sepsis, and urinary tract infections.

    Main Results:

    • High fevers (>= 39.0°C) were frequent in adenovirus (68%), influenza A (84%), and influenza B (65%) infections.
    • Mean highest fever in viral infections (39.2°C) was similar to serious bacterial infections (39.3°C).
    • Fever duration ranged from 2.5 to 5.2 days, with 37% experiencing fever for 5+ days.

    Conclusions:

    • High and prolonged fever are common in hospitalized children with respiratory virus infections.
    • Fever characteristics in these viral infections do not significantly differ from severe bacterial infections.
    • Clinical assessment should consider viral etiologies even with high and persistent fever.

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