©The Author(s) 2025.
World J Clin Pediatr. Dec 9, 2025; 14(4): 105820
Published online Dec 9, 2025. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v14.i4.105820
Published online Dec 9, 2025. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v14.i4.105820
Table 1 Baseline characteristics of participants
| Variables | No infection (n = 348) | Suspected infection (n = 209) | Probable infection (n = 114) | Confirmed infection (n = 131) | P value |
| Sex | 0.177 | ||||
| Male | 197 (24.56) | 125 (15.59) | 58 (7.23) | 84 (10.47) | |
| Female | 151 (18.83) | 84 (10.47) | 56 (6.98) | 47 (5.86) | |
| Age | 0.376 | ||||
| 3 months-1 year | 133 (16.58) | 72 (8.98) | 38 (4.74) | 43 (5.36) | |
| > 1 year-4 years | 74 (9.23) | 36 (4.49) | 18 (2.24) | 35 (4.36) | |
| > 4 years-9 years | 75 (9.35) | 54 (6.73) | 30 (3.74) | 27 (3.37) | |
| > 9 years-14 years | 66 (8.23) | 47 (5.86) | 28 (3.49) | 26 (3.24) | |
| Fever | < 0.001 | ||||
| Absent | 222 (27.68) | 44 (5.49) | 38 (5.74) | 49 (6.12) | |
| Present | 126 (15.71) | 165(20.57) | 76 (9.48) | 82 (10.22) | |
| Cough | 0.032 | ||||
| Absent | 217 (27.06) | 126 (15.71) | 69 (8.60) | 98 (12.22) | |
| Present | 131 (16.33) | 83 (10.35) | 45 (5.61) | 33 (4.11) | |
| Features of capillary leak | < 0.001 | ||||
| Absent | 328 (40.90) | 182 (22.69) | 93 (11.60) | 97 (12.09) | |
| Present | 20 (2.49) | 27 (3.37) | 21 (2.62) | 34 (4.24) | |
| Fast breathing/dyspnea | 0.017 | ||||
| Absent | 219 (27.31) | 145 (18.08) | 59 (7.36) | 86 (10.72) | |
| Present | 129 (16.08) | 64 (7.98) | 55 (6.86) | 45 (5.61) | |
| Lower urinary tract symptoms | 0.001 | ||||
| Absent | 348 (43.39) | 209 (26.06) | 114 (14.21) | 128 (15.96) | |
| Present | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (0.37) | |
| Seizures | 0.045 | ||||
| Absent | 302 (37.66) | 176 (21.94) | 107 (13.30) | 108 (13.47) | |
| Present | 46 (5.74) | 33 (4.12) | 7 (0.87) | 23 (2.87) | |
| Altered sensorium | 0.018 | ||||
| Absent | 308 (38.4) | 169 (21.07) | 98 (12.22) | 103 (12.84) | |
| Present | 40 (4.99) | 40 (4.99) | 16 (2.00) | 28 (3.49) | |
| Earache/ear discharge | 0.029 | ||||
| Absent | 348 (43.39) | 206 (25.69) | 114 (14.21) | 128 (15.96) | |
| Present | 0 (0) | 3 (0.37) | 0 (0) | 3 (0.37) | |
| Chest pain | 0.002 | ||||
| Absent | 339 (42.27) | 204 (25.44) | 104 (12.97) | 130 (16.21) | |
| Present | 9 (1.12) | 5 (0.62) | 10 (1.25) | 1 (0.12) | |
| Oliguria | 0.001 | ||||
| Absent | 341 (42.52) | 205 (25.56) | 110 (13.71) | 119 (14.84) | |
| Present | 7 (0.87) | 4 (0.50) | 4 (0.50) | 12 (1.50) | |
| Temperature | < 0.001 | ||||
| 36 °C-38 °C | 286 (35.66) | 133 (16.58) | 80 (9.98) | 95 (11.85) | |
| > 38 °C | 42 (5.24) | 60 (7.48) | 32 (3.99) | 31 (3.87) | |
| < 36 °C | 20 (2.49) | 16 (2.00) | 2 (0.25) | 5 (0.62) | |
| Pallor | < 0.001 | ||||
| Absent | 308 (38.40) | 161 (20.07) | 90 (11.22) | 83 (10.35) | |
| Present | 40 (4.99) | 48 (5.99) | 24 (2.99) | 48 (5.99) | |
| Air entry | < 0.001 | ||||
| Normal | 323 (40.27) | 186 (23.19) | 84 (10.47) | 117 (14.59) | |
| Abnormal | 25 (3.12) | 23 (2.87) | 30 (3.74) | 14 (1.75) | |
| Murmur | < 0.001 | ||||
| Absent | 316 (39.40) | 165 (20.57) | 95 (11.85) | 124 (15.46) | |
| Present | 32 (3.99) | 44 (5.49) | 19 (2.37) | 7 (0.87) | |
| Peripheries | 0.025 | ||||
| Warm | 334 (41.65) | 187 (23.32) | 107 (13.34) | 123 (15.34) | |
| Cold | 14 (1.75) | 22 (2.74) | 7 (0.87) | 8 (1.00) | |
| Peripheral pulses | 0.002 | ||||
| Normal | 341 (42.52) | 190 (23.69) | 107 (13.34) | 121 (15.09) | |
| Abnormal | 7 (0.87) | 19 (2.37) | 7 (0.87) | 10 (1.25) | |
| Organomegaly | < 0.001 | ||||
| Absent | 302 (37.66) | 159 (19.83) | 81 (10.10) | 89 (11.10) | |
| Present | 46 (5.74) | 50 (6.23) | 33 (4.11) | 42 (5.24) | |
| Abdominal tenderness | 0.005 | ||||
| Absent | 347 (43.27) | 199 (24.81) | 111 (13.84) | 127 (15.84) | |
| Present | 1 (0.12) | 10 (1.25) | 3 (0.37) | 4 (0.50) | |
| GCS | 0.001 | ||||
| Normal | 258 (32.17) | 124 (15.46) | 75 (9.35) | 77 (9.60) | |
| Abnormal (< 15) | 90 (11.22) | 85 (10.60) | 39 (4.86) | 54 (6.73) | |
| Pupillary abnormalities (size and reaction) | 0.041 | ||||
| Normal | 345 (43.02) | 205 (25.56) | 113 (14.09) | 125 (15.59) | |
| Abnormal | 3 (0.37) | 4 (0.50) | 1 (0.12) | 6 (0.75) | |
| Meningeal signs | < 0.001 | ||||
| Absent | 346 (43.14) | 194 (24.19) | 109 (13.59) | 125 (15.59) | |
| Present | 2 (0.25) | 15 (1.87) | 5 (0.62) | 6 (0.75) | |
| Rash | 0.008 | ||||
| Absent | 339 (42.27) | 192 (23.94) | 107 (13.34) | 119 (14.84) | |
| Present | 9 (1.12) | 17 (2.12) | 7 (0.87) | 12 (1.50) | |
| Cellulitis | 0.004 | ||||
| Absent | 345 (43.02) | 197 (24.56) | 108 (13.47) | 123 (15.34) | |
| Present | 3 (0.37) | 12 (1.50) | 6 (0.75) | 8 (1.00) | |
| Antibiotics started in golden hour | < 0.001 | ||||
| No | 348 (43.39) | 0 (0) | 29 (3.62) | 37 (4.61) | |
| Yes | 0 (0) | 209 (26.06) | 85 (10.60) | 94 (11.72) | |
| Prior antibiotic use | < 0.001 | ||||
| Not received | 311 (38.78) | 142 (17.71) | 69 (8.60) | 84 (10.47) | |
| Received | 37 (4.61) | 67(8.35) | 45 (5.61) | 47 (5.86) | |
| Immunodeficiency status | < 0.001 | ||||
| No | 339 (42.27) | 175 (21.82) | 100 (12.47) | 109 (13.59) | |
| Yes | 9 (1.12) | 34 (4.24) | 14 (1.75) | 22 (2.74) | |
| Chronic illness | 0.003 | ||||
| No | 180 (22.44) | 78 (9.73) | 45 (5.61) | 52 (6.48) | |
| Yes | 168 (20.95) | 131 (16.33) | 69 (8.60) | 79 (9.85) | |
- Citation: Yusuf S, Goel AK, Khobragade AW, Das P, Manoj GSV, Saha AK, Reddy SP, Keshri S, Shah S. Determinants of infection for antibiotic initiation at pediatric emergency admission: A prospective observational study. World J Clin Pediatr 2025; 14(4): 105820
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/2219-2808/full/v14/i4/105820.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5409/wjcp.v14.i4.105820