An 8-month-old female with no past medical history presents to the ED for fever. Her mother states that her child has had a fever for three days and has been otherwise acting like herself. She has been receiving acetaminophen every four hours as prescribed by her pediatrician. The last dose was given two hours ago. Vitals are: Temp 102.4, HR 150, RR 30, SpO2 99% RA. Exam shows a happy appearing child with no focal findings. What is the appropriate management of this patient?
A: admit for blood cultures and broad-spectrum antibiotics
B: obtain chest x-ray
C: obtain urinalysis and urine culture
D: reassurance and discharge
Answer: obtain urinalysis and urine culture
This female infant with a prolonged fever and no other identifiable source on exam should be screened for a urinary tract infection. It is common for infants and young children with UTIs to present without other findings other than fever. Admission for blood cultures and antibiotics is indicated for infants < 28 days old with fever, but UTIs in children > 2 months old that are overall well appearing may be treated outpatient. A chest x-ray is not indicated in febrile infants without tachypnea, respiratory distress, or focal lung exam findings.
References:
Chin B, & Grewal S (2020). Urinary tract infection in infants and children. Tintinalli J.E., & Ma O, & Yealy D.M., & Meckler G.D., & Stapczynski J, & Cline D.M., & Thomas S.H.(Eds.), Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 9e. McGraw Hill.
https://www.chop.edu/clinical-pathway/urinary-tract-infection-uti-febrile-clinical-pathway
