WEEK 1 Pediatric Fever Flashcards
E.coli is a common organism that causes early onset sepsis in the neonate. true or false
true
All neonates with fever should receive empiric treatment with IV antibiotics. true or false
true
Early onset group B strep infection in a baby occurs in the first 24 hours to 2 weeks, and late onset occurs at 2 weeks up to 4 weeks of age. true or false
false
Signs and symptoms of sepsis in the neonate include progressive jaundice, poor feeding, and a temperature less than 35.5 degrees C. true or false
true
All neonates with fever should receive a full sepsis work up. true or false
true
What substance travels to the hypothalamus to signal the body to retain and generate more heat?
pyrogens
What part of the brain regulates body temperature?
hypothalamus
What is a fever in an infant under 2months?
Over 2 months?
Under 2 months = 100.4 or 38
Over 2months = 101 or 38.3
What are the differentials for fever? #6
- bacterial infection
- immunization reaction
- autoimmune & inflammatory disease
- cancer (lymphoma & leukemia)
- medication (abx & seizure)
- tissue damage
List the cause of febrile illnesses in neonates
- Infection acquired at delivery
- group B strep
- In nursery
- At home
- Pneumococcal
- Meningococcal
- Anatomic or Physiologic dysfunction
- Renal
- What is the gold standard for measuring temperature for children less than 3 years?
- When would you use an axillary temp?
- Rectal Thermometer
- Neutropenia cases (rectal temp can tear rectal skin and introduce bacteria)
The mother of a 12-month-old calls the clinic because her son has had a fever of 101.5 for 2 days, and she just noticed a rash on his torso. Which of the following questions is most helpful in determining if the rash may be due to a serious bacterial infection?
Does the rash blanch under pressure?
A 65-day-old male with no PMH presents for a fever of 101 degrees F for 8 hours. The infant received his 2 month vaccines yesterday. He is well-appearing and he has no red flags on history or exam. The nurse practitioner should
Order nothing and recheck the patient in 24 hours
A 40-day-old female born at term presents with a fever of 100.9 F for 12 hours. She has no PMH, takes no medications, she is feeding well, and has normal urine output and stool. Her ROS is negative. The child is nontoxic appearing and has an otherwise normal exam. The FNP understands that the infant will require:
UA, urine culture, and CBC/diff, PCT, CRP, and blood culture
How would you manage a low-risk well-appearing young infant 29-90 days old with Fever without a source?
CBC w/diff
Blood cultures
Catheterized UA & UC
PCT & CRP
CXR if not bronchiolitis
F/U 12-24 hours if labs normal & parents reliable
How would you manage a febrile Neonate (under 28 days) with fever?
Hospitalization
Full Septic work up
LP
CXR
Stool culture
THEN antibiotics an possibly acyclovir
How would you manage an ill-appearing febrile young infant (29-60 days) ?
Hospitalization with full work up
what labs for a febrile, well appearing infant (60-90 days old)?
U/A & U/C
CBC w/differential
BC
PCT
Any child under 2 years old with fever without focus warrants _____ ?
Urinalysis and Urine culture
What lab findings would constitute a preliminary diagnosis of UTI?
- Urine leukocyte esterase
- Nitrites
- Leukocyte count
- Gram stain
What do non-blanching rashes like petechiae and purpura indicate?
Bacteremia
What are some differential diagnoses for Fever without focus?
-
Bacterial infections (usually E. coli)
- Bacteremia
- Pneumonia
- UTI
-
Viral infection *most common*
- Influenza
- RSV
- Enterovirus
-
Noninfectious
- Kawasaki disease
- Autoimmune or inflammatory
- Immunization reaction
What antibiotics would you prescribe to a neonate with a fever without focus?
Ampicillin AND cefotaxime or gentamicin
What would you prescribe a neonate under 28 days if HSV was a concern?
Acyclovir
What would you prescribe a neonate under 28 days if meningitis was a concern?
Vancomycin
What is the antibiotic regimen for an infant (29 to 60 days) with fever without focus?
- Ceftriaxone or Cefotaxime
- Gentamicin for broader Gram – coverage
- Acyclovir for HSV concern
- Vancomycin for meningitis concern
What is the antibiotic regimen for an infant (61 to 90 days) with fever without focus
- Ceftriaxone and Cefotaxime
- Vancomycin if indicated
If an infant is less than 60 days old and labs are abnormal and CXR shows pneumonia…What additional testing should be done?
Lumbar Puncture
A well appearing infant (61-90 days) with fever without source needs to have what lab work done?
UA, UC, CBC w/diff, Blood culture, and inflammatory markers
An infant 61-90 days tests positive for RSV, what is their work up?
None
An infant 61-90 days tests positive for flu, what is their work up?
urinalysis and urine culture
What is the goal of testing infants 3months to 12 months?
R/O SBI
Which children require urine testing to r/o UTI?
All infants less than 3 months
American Heart Association 2017 Criteria for Kawasaki Disease
_Fever ≥ 5 days* and ≥ four of the following five principal clinical features** (most common to least common)_
-
Changes in lips and oral cavity, including
- reddened, cracked lips,
- strawberry tongue, and
- diffuse redness of oral and pharyngeal mucosa.
- Bilateral bulbar conjunctivitis, nonpurulent
- Polymorphous rash (maculopapular, erythema multiforme-like, and diffuse erythroderma) in extremities, trunk, or perineal regions
-
Changes in extremities
- Acute: edema of hands and feet, erythema of palms and soles
- Subacute: desquamation of fingers and toes
-
Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Usually unilateral
- ≥ one lymph node that is > 1.5 cm in diameter
Consider evaluating for incomplete Kawasaki disease in patients who lack full clinical features of classic Kawasaki disease; presence of coronary artery abnormalities confirms Kawasaki disease in most cases
* In patient with ≥ four principal clinical features, particularly with redness and swelling of hands and feet, diagnosis of Kawasaki disease may be made with 4 days of fever.
** Consider whether ≥ one principal clinical features were present during illness but resolved by time of presentation.
A 10-year-old child has a 1-week history of fever of 104 °C that is unresponsive to antipyretics. The primary care pediatric nurse practitioner examines the child and notes bilateral conjunctival injection and a polymorphous exanthema, with no other symptoms. Lab tests show elevated ESR, CRP, and platelets; cultures are all negative. What will the nurse practitioner do?
Order baseline Echo and another in 2 weeks
The clean catch urine specimen of a child with dysuria, frequency, and fever has a colony count between 50,000 and 100,000 of E. coli. What is the treatment for this child?
Treat with antibiotics for urinary tract infection
A 3-year-old child has just completed a 7-day course of amoxicillin for a second febrile urinary tract infection and currently has a negative urine culture. What is the next course of action?
Obtain a renal and bladder ultrasound
A dipstick urinalysis is positive for leukocyte esterase and nitrites in a school-age child with dysuria and foul-smelling urine but no fever, who has not had previous urinary tract infections. A culture is pending. What will the pediatric nurse practitioner do to treat this child?
Prescribe trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP) twice daily for 3–5 days
A preschool-age child with no previous history has mild flank pain and fever but no abdominal pain or vomiting. A urinalysis is positive for leukocyte esterase and nitrites. A culture is pending. Which is the correct course of treatment for this child?
Order amoxicillin clavulanate
A 30-month-old girl who has been toilet trained for 6 months has daytime enuresis and dysuria and a low-grade fever. A dipstick urinalysis is negative for leukocyte esterase and nitrites. What is the next step?
Send the urine to the lab for culture
11
What are the red flags for a serious bacterial infection in an infant or child?
- Under 1 month old
- Ill appearance
- Pallor/mottled/ashen color
- Decreased Activity (poor feeding, no smile, decreased response to stimuli, lethargy, high-pitched cry)
- Tachypnea or Tachycardia
- Cap refill >3 sec
- Decreased U/O
- Underlying condition
- Unreliable caretakers
- Bulging fontanel
- Non-blanching skin rash
Which age of pediatric patients are at greatest risk for serious complications?
90 days or less
An 18-month-old male presents to your office with a temperature of 102.4. The parent says he has been feverish for the past two days with a slightly decreased appetite and energy level, but otherwise no complaints.
What are 5 differential diagnoses you would consider as a common reason for fever in this age of patient?
Upper Respiratory* Tract Disease (viral URI, otitis media*, & sinusitis)
Lower Respiratory Tract disease (bronchiolitis, pneumonia*)
GI Disease (enteritis*)
Musculoskeletal infections (cellulitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis*)
UTI* (especially E. coli)
Occult Bacteremia*
What diagnostic tests will you consider in a patient with a fever of unknown origin?
· CBC, ESR, CRP, Procalcitonin
· Serologic tests for specific diseases
· Blood Cultures
· U/A & U/C
· Mantoux skin test
· Xray
· LFTs
· Bone marrow biopsy for bacteria, fungus, AFB (mycobacterium)
· Echo for subacute endocarditis
- What are the indications for hospitalization in an infant or child with fever?
· Young Infant will be hospitalized if it has Box 28.9
- o Toxic Appearance/not consolable
- o Chronic Illness
- o Unreliable parents
- o Premature
- o A focal bacterial infection
- o Received systemic antibiotics within 72 hours
- o Postive U/A
- o WBC >15,000
- o ANC >1500 bands
- o Procalcitonin
- o CXR infiltrates
- o Positive Stool smear
- What questions are important to ask when gathering history on an infant with fever?
· Duration & Degree of fever
· Associated Symptoms (nonblanchable rash, change in activity, respiratory symptoms, V/D)
· Review of known exposures (family illness, other ill children, recent travel)
· PMH chronic illness (malignancy, splenectomy, shunt, indwelling catheter, immunologic disorders, SBI)
· Neonatal history of complications, prior abx, surgeries or hyperbilirubinemia
· Medications (antipyretics, antibiotics, herbs & dietary supplements)
· Immunization history (Hib & pneumo)