Febrile Infant: Observing Closely at Home
Infant may be managed at home if parent and clinician agree that the following are present: reliable phone and transportation, parent willingness to observe and communicate changes in condition, and agreement to the infant being reevaluated in 24 hours. Most 29- to 60-day-old infants with negative IM and urinalysis results may be observed at home. However, hospital observation is an option for infants when there are barriers to follow-up.
Pantell, R. H., Roberts, K. B., Adams, W. G., Dreyer, B. P., Kuppermann, N., O’Leary, S. T., ... & Teichman, J. S. (2021). Evaluation and management of well-appearing febrile infants 8 to 60 days old.Pediatrics,148(2).
These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.