Study of ‘Fever without source’ in Infants and young children

Abstract

Background: Fever is one of the most common as well as trouble some manifestation in paediatric practice, both for paediatricians and parents. It is a simply noted an good marker of illness. Fever could be benign presentation of simple viral infection or it can be a presentation of life threating bacterial infection like sepsis and pyogenic meningitis. It is a common, terrifying, physiologic response that has been the source of biggest complaint throughout the history of paediatric practice. Methods: Analytical Cross-sectional Study. Results: In present study, 60 cases were included. Age group between 1-3 months was 3.3% (n=2) of the patients, 4-36 months was 31.6% (n=19) of the patients and 37-60 months was 65% (n=39) of the patients. Female n=31 more than male n=29. Final diagnosis was of UTI in 11.6% (n=7) of the cases taken in the study. Sepsis was diagnosed in 10% (n=6), Rickettsial Fever was diagnosed in 13.3% (n=8), Typhoid fever was diagnosed in 11.6% (n=7), Dengue was diagnosed in 3.3% (n=2) and Kawasaki’s disease was diagnosed in 5% (n=3) of the patients. Rest 45% (n=27) of the patients where cause was unknown. Conclusion: UTI, Rickettsial infection and Enteric fever were among common cause of Fever without source. “Fever without source’ pose a diagnostic dilemma and require detail evaluation to detect underlying etiology of infection, Systemic illness or Occult bacteremia. Majority of the patients no etiology was found in our study, Inspite of thorough investigation.