Question

A 21-day-old term infant presents with a history of rectal temperature 38.4°C at home and is now afebrile but well-appearing in the emergency department. According to the CPS guideline on febrile young infants, what is the most appropriate management?

Accepted Answer

Perform full sepsis workup including blood, urine and CSF cultures and start empiric intravenous antibiotics with hospital admission

Answer

Reassure the parents and discharge without investigations because the infant looks well

Answer

Obtain blood and urine for culture and discharge with 24-hour follow-up

Answer

Perform a chest X-ray and give oral antibiotics for presumed pneumonia

Answer

Give a single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone and arrange outpatient review in 48 hours

Practice question

A 21-day-old term infant presents with a history of rectal temperature 38.4°C at home and is now afebrile but well-appearing in the emergency department. According to the CPS guideline on febrile young infants, what is the most appropriate management?