pediatrics
Occult Bacteremia and Fever Without Apparent Source in Infants and Young Children
Introduction
Occult bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream of febrile young children who have no apparent foci of infection and look well. Diagnosis is by blood culture and exclusion of focal infection. Treatment is with antibiotics, either in the hospital or as outpatients; select children are treated pending blood culture results. The causes, evaluation, and management of possible occult bacteremia vary by children's age and immunization status. See also Fever in Infants and Children . 