A 10-month-old boy presents with fever 39.2 °C and irritability but is otherwise well-appearing, with normal examination and good feeding. He is fully...

Question

A 10-month-old boy presents with fever 39.2 °C and irritability but is otherwise well-appearing, with normal examination and good feeding. He is fully immunised and has no chronic conditions. According to Canadian Paediatric Society guidance, which is the best approach to evaluating this infant for serious bacterial infection?

Accepted Answer

Use age, immunisation status and clinical appearance to risk-stratify; consider urinalysis and limited investigations rather than routine lumbar puncture in well-appearing, immunised infants over 3 months

Answer

Routine full septic workup with lumbar puncture and empiric intravenous antibiotics in all infants under 12 months

Answer

No investigations and discharge without follow-up

Answer

Admit all febrile infants under 2 years for observation

Answer

Order chest CT and blood cultures for all febrile infants

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Fever in infants - risk stratification