Table 2 Characteristics of cases during the febrile episode and differences among study subgroups

Clinical presentation

Previous days of fever [m (IQR)]

1 (1–1)

1 (1–2)

1 (1–2)

1 (1–1)

0.459

Max. temperature [m (IQR)]

38.8 (38.4–39.1)

39.1 (38.9–39.2)

38.7 (38.3–39.2)

38.8 (38.5–39)

0.430

Upper respiratory symptoms [no. (%)]

49 (62)

2 (50)

33 (80.5)

14 (42.4)

0.003

Hemodynamic instability [no. (%)]

2 (2.5)

1 (25)

1 (2.4)

0

0.012

Hypoxemia [no. (%)]

10 (12.7)

0

4 (9.8)

6 (18.2)

0.410

Laboratory parameters

Initial hemoglobin g/dl [m (IQR)]

8.5 (7.5–9.5)

9 (8.4–9.5)

8.5 (7.4–9.7)

8.5 (7.5–9.5)

0.681

Initial WBC × 10⁹ /L [m (IQR)]

13.8 (9.7–21.1)

20.7 (17.6–31.4)

11.8 (8.9–21.2)

13.9 (10.9–19.8)

0.160

Initial neutrophils × 10⁹ /L [m (IQR)]

8.1 (5.1–13.8)

16.8 (13.9–26.7)

7 (3.7–13.3)

7.8 (6.1–12.5)

0.039

Initial CRP mg/dl [m (IQR)]

2 (0.4–5.9)

9.6 (7.8–15.1)

1.1 (0.4–3.4)

3.1 (0.6–6)

0.007

Max. CRP mg/dl (n = 56) [m (IQR)]

4 (1.1–10.1)

13.5 (12.3–17.9)

3.3 (1–7.2)

5.2 (1.2–9.4)

0.047

Initial PCT ng/ml [m (IQR)]

0.3 (0.2–0.6)

2 (0.8–2.9)

0.4 (0.2–0.6)

0.2 (0.1–0.4)

0.036

Max. PCT ng/ml (n = 40) [m (IQR)]

0.5 (0.2–1.4)

3.1 (1.8–18.9)

0.6 (0.3–1.3)

0.3 (0.2–0.5)

0.031

Outcome

Hospital admission [no. (%)]

64 (81)

4 (100)

29 (70.7)

30 (90.9)

0.055

Antibiotic treatment [no. (%)]

76 (96.2)

4 (100)

39 (95.1)

32 (97)

0.845

Need for antibiotic change [no. (%)]

12 (15.2)

3 (75)

3 (7.5)

5 (15.6)

0.001

Final diagnosis of ACS [no. (%)]

13 (16.5)

1 (25)

5 (12.2)

7 (21.2)

0.527

Final diagnosis of VOC [no. (%)]

7 (8.9)

0

1 (2.4)

6 (18.2)

0.051

PICU admission [no. (%)]

3 (3.8)

0

1 (2.4)

2 (6.1)

0.665

Total days of fever [m (IQR)]

2 (1–4)

2.5 (2–4)

2 (2–3)

2 (1–4)

0.749

Days of admission [m (IQR)]

4 (2–6)

7.5 (5.5–8.5)

3 (0.5–5)

5(2.5–6)

0.013