children s health issues
Occult Bacteremia
Treatment of Occult Bacteremia
Antibiotics Sometimes, before results of the culture are known, doctors give an antibiotic to children who have a fever and who appear seriously ill and who are at high risk of bacteremia. Usually, doctors give an injectable antibiotic such asceftriaxone. Children with positive culture results who do not appear very ill are given an injectable antibiotic or antibiotics by mouth at home. Children who have positive culture results and who show signs of serious illness are admitted to the hospital and given antibiotics by vein. All children who were being observed at home are re-examined in 24 to 48 hours. Children who still have fever or who have positive blood or urine cultures and have not been given antibiotics already have more cultures done and are hospitalized. They are then evaluated for serious illness and are given antibiotics by vein. Children 3 months to 3 years of age may be given drugs, such asacetaminophen, that lower body temperature and make children feel better. 