Etiology, Clinical Profile, and Related Factors of Serious Bacterial Infection in Children Hospitalized with Fever without A Source

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fever in children is one of the most common reasons that cause parents to go to the pediatric clinic for medical care. Differentiating between benign self-limiting viral disease and a serious bacterial infection is a major challenge for pediatricians. The present study was conducted to determine the etiology, clinical profile, and related factors of serious bacterial infection in children hospitalized with fever without a source. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 241 children with fever greater than or equal to 38 ºC without other symptoms hospitalized in pediatric emergency ward of Ali-Ebne-abitaleb hospital in 2020. Demographic information and laboratory findings of patients as well as other information was obtained through history taking and recorded in information form. Then, children were examined for viral or bacterial fever in two groups. FINDINGS: Out of 241 examined children, 90 patients (37.3%) had severe bacterial infection (SBI) and 151 patients (62.7%) had viral infection. There was a significant difference between variables such as age, number of siblings, history of respiratory infections in parents and birth weight between the two bacterial and viral groups (p=0.001). The white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, platelets and duration of fever were significantly different between the two groups (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Results showed that some laboratory and clinical factors are different between the two bacterial and viral groups and can help us differentiate them.

Keywords

• fever without a source
• children
• bacterial infection
• viral infection.