Predicting Fever Response of Children with Pneumonia Treated with Antibiotics

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Abstract
In order to study predictors of fever response in children with radiologic pulmonary infiltrates treated with antibiotics, 156 children with pneumonia were evaluated with slide test C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), blood cultures, acute and con valescent viral and mycoplasma titers, and then followed clinically. Both CRP (+) at a serum dilution of 1:50 and WBC ≥ 15,000 were better predictors of rapid resolution of fever while the patient was receiving antibiotics than were ESR ≥ 30 or temperature ≥ 40 C. WBC ≥ 15,000 was nearly as specific but more sensitive than CRP (+) 1:50 for resolution of fever in either 8, 12 or 24 hours. Positive blood or lung bacterial cultures, but not four-fold or greater viral or mycoplasma titer increases, were also associated with rapid resolution of fever. WBC ≥ 15,000 is useful in predicting rapid fever response in children with pneumonia treated with antibiotics.