Febrile Children

Abstract

In Reply.— A high percentage (87%) of the 55 ill-appearing (scale score >10) febrile children in our study1 had at least one laboratory test performed; a lesser percentage (45%) of the 110 well-appearing (scale score ≤10) febrile children had at least one laboratory study performed. Nearly half (47%) of the total laboratory studies performed, however, were performed on well-appearing febrile children. Despite a nearly equal number of total laboratory studies in well- and in ill-appearing febrile children, only three of 23 abnormal test results (p 805, table 2) occurred in well appearing children.