The management of fever and petechiae: making sense of rash decisions

Arch Dis Child. 2000 Dec;83(6):506-7. doi: 10.1136/adc.83.6.506.

Abstract

In a retrospective and prospective audit of 55 children presenting to the paediatric assessment unit of a district general hospital with fever and petechial rash, 9% had significant bacterial sepsis. The "ILL criteria" (irritability, lethargy, low capillary refill) for the management of children with fever and petechiae are proposed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bacteremia / complications*
  • Bacteremia / diagnosis
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fever / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Medical Audit
  • Meningococcal Infections / complications*
  • Meningococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Purpura / microbiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity