The Pediatric infectious disease journal
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Mar 2000
Comparative StudyComparison of hemocytometer leukocyte counts and standard urinalyses for predicting urinary tract infections in febrile infants.
To compare the accuracy of standard and hemocytometer white blood cell (WBC) counts and urinalyses for predicting urinary tract infection (UTI) in febrile infants. ⋯ Hemocytometer WBC counts provide more valid and precise prediction of UTI in febrile infants than standard UA. The presence of > or =10 WBC/microl in suprapubic aspiration specimens is the optimum cutoff value for identifying febrile infants for whom urine culture is warranted.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Jan 2000
Comparative Study Clinical TrialValue of cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte aggregation in distinguishing the causes of meningitis in children.
Current laboratory tests often cannot distinguish between bacterial and aseptic meningitis rapidly and accurately. The ability to make a prompt diagnosis has important implications for the management and outcome of children with meningitis. The observation that leukocytes aggregate in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been previously reported, and it has been advocated as a reliable method to distinguish the causes of meningitis in children. ⋯ There is no single test to diagnose the etiology of meningitis in children promptly and accurately. The finding of leukocyte aggregation in CSF might be of value as a sensitive adjunctive screening tool for the timely diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, recognizing that it has low specificity and potential practical limitations.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Jan 2000
Bronchiolitis-associated hospitalizations among American Indian and Alaska Native children.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract illness among infants and young children. Respiratory system diseases account for a large proportion of hospitalizations in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children; however, aggregate estimates of RSV-associated hospitalizations among AI/AN children have not been made. ⋯ Bronchiolitis-associated hospitalization rates are substantially greater for AI/AN infants than those for all US infants. This difference may reflect an increased likelihood of severe RSV-associated disease or a decreased threshold for hospitalization among AI/AN infants with bronchiolitis compared with all US infants. AI/AN children would receive considerable benefit from lower respiratory tract illness prevention programs, including an RSV vaccine, if and when one becomes available.