Signs and symptoms in children with a serious infection: a qualitative study
<p style="text-align:justify;"> <b>Background:</b> Early diagnosis of serious infections in children is difficult in general practice, as incidence is low, patients present themselves at an early stage of the disease and diagnostic tools are limited to signs and symptoms...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| 格式: | Journal article |
| 语言: | English |
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BioMed Central
2005
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| _version_ | 1826269433295798272 |
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| author | Van Den Bruel, A Bruyninckx, R Vermeire, E Aerssens, P Aertgeerts, B Buntinx, F |
| author_facet | Van Den Bruel, A Bruyninckx, R Vermeire, E Aerssens, P Aertgeerts, B Buntinx, F |
| author_sort | Van Den Bruel, A |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p style="text-align:justify;"> <b>Background:</b> Early diagnosis of serious infections in children is difficult in general practice, as incidence is low, patients present themselves at an early stage of the disease and diagnostic tools are limited to signs and symptoms from observation, clinical history and physical examination. Little is known which signs and symptoms are important in general practice. With this qualitative study, we aimed to identify possible new important diagnostic variables.<br/><br/> <b>Methods:</b> Semi-structured interviews with parents and physicians of children with a serious infection. We investigated all signs and symptoms that were related to or preceded the diagnosis. The analysis was done according to the grounded theory approach. Participants were recruited in general practice and at the hospital.<br/><br/> <b>Results:</b> 18 children who were hospitalised because of a serious infection were included. On average, parents and paediatricians were interviewed 3 days after admittance of the child to hospital, general practitioners between 5 and 8 days after the initial contact.<br/><br/> The most prominent diagnostic signs in seriously ill children were changed behaviour, crying characteristics and the parents' opinion. Children either behaved drowsy or irritable and cried differently, either moaning or an inconsolable, loud crying. The parents found this illness different from previous illnesses, because of the seriousness or duration of the symptoms, or the occurrence of a critical incident. Classical signs, like high fever, petechiae or abnormalities at auscultation were helpful for the diagnosis when they were present, but not helpful when they were absent.<br/><br/> <b>Conclusion:</b> behavioural signs and symptoms were very prominent in children with a serious infection. They will be further assessed for diagnostic accuracy in a subsequent, quantitative diagnostic study. </p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T21:24:59Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:42c70e79-b2a7-4767-993e-f07bc6d47e9d |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T21:24:59Z |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publisher | BioMed Central |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:42c70e79-b2a7-4767-993e-f07bc6d47e9d2022-03-26T14:51:27ZSigns and symptoms in children with a serious infection: a qualitative studyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:42c70e79-b2a7-4767-993e-f07bc6d47e9dEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordBioMed Central2005Van Den Bruel, ABruyninckx, RVermeire, EAerssens, PAertgeerts, BBuntinx, F <p style="text-align:justify;"> <b>Background:</b> Early diagnosis of serious infections in children is difficult in general practice, as incidence is low, patients present themselves at an early stage of the disease and diagnostic tools are limited to signs and symptoms from observation, clinical history and physical examination. Little is known which signs and symptoms are important in general practice. With this qualitative study, we aimed to identify possible new important diagnostic variables.<br/><br/> <b>Methods:</b> Semi-structured interviews with parents and physicians of children with a serious infection. We investigated all signs and symptoms that were related to or preceded the diagnosis. The analysis was done according to the grounded theory approach. Participants were recruited in general practice and at the hospital.<br/><br/> <b>Results:</b> 18 children who were hospitalised because of a serious infection were included. On average, parents and paediatricians were interviewed 3 days after admittance of the child to hospital, general practitioners between 5 and 8 days after the initial contact.<br/><br/> The most prominent diagnostic signs in seriously ill children were changed behaviour, crying characteristics and the parents' opinion. Children either behaved drowsy or irritable and cried differently, either moaning or an inconsolable, loud crying. The parents found this illness different from previous illnesses, because of the seriousness or duration of the symptoms, or the occurrence of a critical incident. Classical signs, like high fever, petechiae or abnormalities at auscultation were helpful for the diagnosis when they were present, but not helpful when they were absent.<br/><br/> <b>Conclusion:</b> behavioural signs and symptoms were very prominent in children with a serious infection. They will be further assessed for diagnostic accuracy in a subsequent, quantitative diagnostic study. </p> |
| spellingShingle | Van Den Bruel, A Bruyninckx, R Vermeire, E Aerssens, P Aertgeerts, B Buntinx, F Signs and symptoms in children with a serious infection: a qualitative study |
| title | Signs and symptoms in children with a serious infection: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Signs and symptoms in children with a serious infection: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Signs and symptoms in children with a serious infection: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Signs and symptoms in children with a serious infection: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Signs and symptoms in children with a serious infection: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | signs and symptoms in children with a serious infection a qualitative study |
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