Diagnostic uncertainty in children with fever impacts health service resources

(University of Liverpool) The management of febrile illness (fever) in children has a substantial impact on National Health Services resources, predominantly due to diagnostic uncertainty resulting from a lack of accurate tests to distinguish between viral and bacterial illness, a new study reports.Uncertainty over the causes of fever, and associated added cautiousness by clinicians, results in increased observation times, inpatient admissions, and precautionary use of antibiotics, say researchers at the University of Liverpool and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news