Evaluation of children with fever greater than or equal to 104 degrees F in an emergency department

Two hundred five children with a temperature greater than or equal to 104 degrees F seen in a pediatric emergency department were studied over a six-month fall-winter period to determine the patterns of illness and hospitalization. Children over five years composed a large group (38%) of patients ad...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPediatric emergency care Vol. 4; no. 2; p. 92
Main Author Marcinak, J F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.1988
Subjects
Bacterial Infections - complications
Bacterial Infections - diagnosis
Bacterial Infections - epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Emergencies
Fever - epidemiology
Fever - etiology
Hospitalization
Humans
Infant
Ohio
Pneumonia - complications
Seasons
Sepsis - etiology
Virus Diseases - complications
Virus Diseases - diagnosis
Virus Diseases - epidemiology
Ohio
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Summary:Two hundred five children with a temperature greater than or equal to 104 degrees F seen in a pediatric emergency department were studied over a six-month fall-winter period to determine the patterns of illness and hospitalization. Children over five years composed a large group (38%) of patients admitted. The proportions of patients with viral and bacterial illnesses (40 and 45%) were similar, as were hospitalization rates for the two types of illnesses (11 and 14%). The hospitalization rates did not change if pneumonias were considered all bacterial or all viral. Chest x-rays were done in 103 patients, and pneumonia was diagnosed in 26 with 18 (69%) occurring in children older than 24 months. There were 10 adolescents greater than or equal to 12 years, five of whom had Group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Blood cultures were drawn in 85 patients, and bacteremia occurred in 12 patients, all younger than 24 months. This study shows that significant illnesses and a high proportion of hospitalizations occurred in children of all ages, particularly in children older than five years.
ISSN:0749-5161