Abstract
Management of the febrile young infant remains a source of consternation for parent and practitioner alike. Although the risk of serious bacterial illness in well-appearing febrile infants younger than 2 months old without a source of infection on physical examination is small, the absence of reliable clinical signs makes diagnosis difficult. For many years, a sepsis evaluation, routine hospitalization, and empiric antibiotic therapy was the rule. However, recent prospective studies have shown that a select group of febrile infants who meet low-risk criteria consisting of clinical and laboratory parameters, may be managed a as outpatients. This article reviews the epidemiology of febrile illness in infants younger than 2 months old. Recent prospective research is reviewed with an emphasis on differences in screening criteria and the subsequent effect on outcome. A management strategy based on these data is proposed. Copyright copy; 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 102-108 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Emergency Medicine