Question

A 21-day-old term infant is brought to the emergency department with a rectal temperature of 38.4 °C recorded at home. On arrival he appears well, with normal examination findings. According to the 2024 Canadian Paediatric Society guideline on febrile infants, what is the recommended management?

Accepted Answer

Full sepsis evaluation including blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid cultures and admission for empiric IV antibiotics

Answer

Discharge home with antipyretics and follow-up in 48 hours

Answer

Urine dipstick only and observation in the emergency department

Answer

Empiric oral antibiotics without investigations

Answer

Lumbar puncture only if white blood cell count is elevated

Practice question

A 21-day-old term infant is brought to the emergency department with a rectal temperature of 38.4 °C recorded at home. On arrival he appears well, with normal examination findings. According to the 2024 Canadian Paediatric Society guideline on febrile infants, what is the recommended management?