Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 15, 2026

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis
08:44

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis

Published on: September 7, 2022

Childhood fever

C Y Chong1, D M Allen

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.

Singapore Medical Journal
|February 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Childhood fever often stems from viral infections, not bacterial ones. Avoiding unnecessary antibiotics is crucial to prevent antibiotic resistance in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Childhood fever is a common symptom with diverse etiologies.
  • Accurate diagnosis relies on parental observation and clinical examination due to children's limited communication.
  • Overuse of antibiotics for childhood fever contributes to antimicrobial resistance, exemplified by Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline a straightforward diagnostic approach for childhood fever based on associated symptoms.
  • To emphasize the unique considerations for managing fever in infants under 3 months.
  • To advocate for judicious use of antipyretics and antibiotics.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical assessment focusing on the presence or absence of localizing symptoms.
  • Evaluation of patient factors including age, toxicity, and immune status.
  • Consideration of the infection source and parental education.

Main Results:

  • The majority of febrile children present with non-bacterial upper respiratory tract infections.
  • Infants under 3 months require special attention due to potential for serious bacterial infections.
  • Indiscriminate antibiotic use is ineffective and promotes drug resistance.

Conclusions:

  • A symptom-based approach can help differentiate causes of childhood fever.
  • Appropriate management involves assessing fever severity, patient condition, and infection source, avoiding overprescription of antibiotics and antipyretics.
  • Parental education is vital for effective fever management in children.

More Related Videos

Detection of Polyfunctional T Cells in Children Vaccinated with Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine via the Flow Cytometry Technique09:37

Detection of Polyfunctional T Cells in Children Vaccinated with Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine via the Flow Cytometry Technique

Published on: September 23, 2022

Standardization of Transfer across Labs between Flow Cytometers for Detection of Lymphocytes in Japanese Encephalitis Vaccinated Children06:22

Standardization of Transfer across Labs between Flow Cytometers for Detection of Lymphocytes in Japanese Encephalitis Vaccinated Children

Published on: February 10, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Increased Body Temperature01:25

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above  38°C  (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
Methods of reducing fever01:22

Methods of reducing fever

The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Types of Fever01:25

Types of Fever

Fever can be triggered by several factors, including infections, nervous system disorders, certain cancers, blood diseases like leukemia, embolism, thrombosis, heatstroke, dehydration, surgical trauma, crushing injuries, and allergic reactions.
Here are the different types of fever:
Patterns of Fever01:26

Patterns of Fever

Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Yellow Fever01:18

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted primarily by Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America. After transmission through a mosquito bite, the virus initially replicates in skin-resident immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages. These cells then migrate to the lymph nodes, where viral replication increases, eventually leading to...