Pneumococcal Bacteremia

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Abstract
PNEUMOCOCCAL BACTEREMIA associated with upper respiratory tract infection and febrile seizures has not been previously described.1-3 This paper reports such an illness occurring in two of three children with pneumococcal bacteremia who were seen during a six-month period at the San Francisco General Hospital. Because bacteremia was not suspected and because the children's symptoms were mild, treatment with penicillin was not started until 36 to 72 hours after the onset of high fever and seizures at which time the positive blood cultures were reported. Clinical and laboratory observations were made on admission, and repeated just before penicillin treatment was started. Report of Cases Case 1.—A 21-month-old Negro boy was admitted because of high fever and a grand mal seizure. He had had rhinorrhea for one day. Despite a temperature of 105 F (40.6 C) and a pulse rate of 168/min, the patient was alert and in no distress. He