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Clinical and Laboratory "Low Risk" Criteria for Children Younger Than 3 Months with Fever and No Focus of Infection
Clinical criteria
- Born at term (gestational age >/= 37 weeks) with uncomplicated nursery stay
- Previously healthy infants
- No toxic manifestations
- No focal bacterial infection (except otitis media)
Laboratory criteria
- White blood cell count 5-15 x 109/l, < 1.5 x 109 band cells/l, or band/neutrophil ratio < 2
- Normal urine analysis results (negative Gram stain of unspun urine, negative leucocyte esterase and nitrite, fewer than five white blood cells per high power field)
- When diarrhoea is present, no haem and fewer than five white blood cells per high power field
- Fewer than 8 x 106 white blood cells/l in cerebrospinal fluid, if lumbar puncture is performed, and negative Gram stain findings in cerebrospinal fluid
- No infiltrate on chest radiograph
References:
1. Brook I. Unexplained fever in young children: how to manage severe bacterial infection. BMJ. 2003 Nov 8;327(7423):1094-7. [Medline]
Created: July 21, 2005
Last Modified:
03/04/2006
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