ED Practice Patterns for Children Aged 3 to 36 Months With Fever Without a Source

Investigators analyzed data from the 2006–2008 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to describe emergency department (ED) practice patterns in the Haemophilus influenza and pneumococcal vaccine era for children aged 3 to 36 months with fever ≥38°C without a source (e.g., sore throat, diarrhea). Patients were excluded if they had a discharge diagnosis that would likely preclude diagnostic testing (e.g., croup, bronchiolitis, herpangina).

Among children aged 3 to 36 months, fever without a source accounted for 22% of visits (approximately 1.7 million visits per year), 5% of which resulted in admission. In 59% of visits, no diagnostic tests were ordered. Although girls and patients with temperatures ≥39°C were significantly more lik…