Pediatric fever of uncertain source

Management of patients who are well-appearing, vaccinated, and no clinical source of fever

Age Group	Evaluation	Treatment
0-28d, ≥38C SBI incidence of ill appearing: 13%–21% if not ill appearing: <5%	CBC, blood Cx UA, Ucx CSF cell count, GS, Cx CXR (only if resp sx) Stool testing (if diarrhea present)	Admit Ampicillin 50mg/kg + (cefotaxime 50mg/kg or gentamicin 2.5mg/kg)
29-56d, ≥ 38.2 (100.8) (Philadelphia Protocol) SBI incidence of ill appearing: 13%–21% if not ill appearing: <5%	Same as for neonates	Discharge if: 1. WBC <15K but >5K and <20% bands 2. UA negative Admit if above are not met and treat with CTX 50mg/kg if CSF normal, 100mg/kg if signs of meningitis
57d-6mo, ≥38 Non-UTI SBI incidence is estimated to be negligible UTI is 3%–8%	UA and Ucx alone OR treat 57-90d using Philadelphia Protocol	Discharge if negative Treat UTI w/ cefixime 8mg/kg/d or cefpodoxime 10mg/kg/d divided into BID or cefdinir 14mg/kg/d x 7-10days as outpatient Admit and tx with CTX if fail criteria for d/c
57d-6mo, ≥39 (102.2) SBI incidence is estimated <1%; non-UTI SBI incidence is estimated to be negligible. UTI is 3%–8%	UA and Ucx alone OR UA and Ucx + CBC + blood cx	Discharge if negative Treat for UTI as above If WBC>15K consider treatment with CTX 50 mg/kg IV/IM, and follow-up in 24hr If WBC>20K consider CXR and CSF
6–36 mo Non-UTI SBI incidence is <0.4%  UTI in girls ≤8% UTI in boys (<12 mo) ≤ 2% Uncircumcised boys (1–2 y) remains 2%	UA and Ucx in: (girls 6-24mo) (circ 6-12mo) (uncirc 6-24mo)	Discharge if negative Treat for UTI as above as outpatient
>36mo	No further w/u is routinely necessary

Note: Preemies - Count age by estimated postconception date (not by actual delivery date) for 1st 90d

See Also

UTI (Peds)

Sepsis (Peds)

Meningitis (Peds)

Source

Tintinalli