PEDIATRICS Vol. 88 No. 6 December 1991, pp. 1119-1124
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Morley, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Hewson, P. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Morley, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Hewson, P. H.

Symptoms and Signs in Infants Younger Than 6 Months of Age Correlated With the Severity of Their Illness

C. J. Morley MD, FRCP, DCH1, A. J. Thornton BA, SRN1, T. J. Cole PhD2, M. A. Fowler 1, and P. H. Hewson MD, FRACP3

1 From the Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, England
2 Mrc Dunn Nutrition Laboratory, Cambridge
3 Department of General Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

Symptoms and signs were recorded for 1007 infants younger than 6 months of age seen at home (298) or hospital (709) and correlated with four grades of illness severity. Most symptoms, present in the preceding 3 days, were associated with all grades of illness. Only four symptoms were not reported in well infants: a fluid intake less than a third of normal, convulsions, frank blood in the stools, and bile-stained vomiting. By comparison, many signs were seen only in ill infants. Those associated only with moderate or serous illness were marked retraction of the lower ribs, high-pitched or moaning cry, expiratory grunt, loss of alertness, central cyanosis, and severe hypotonia. Although these will not identify all seriously ill infants, parents and professionals should be taught to recognize these important symptoms and signs of serious illness.

Key Words: infant • illness • symptoms • signs

Submitted on February 20, 1990
Accepted on October 10, 1990




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 BMJHome page
G. M Walker, A. Neilson, D. Young, and P. A M Raine
Colour of bile vomiting in intestinal obstruction in the newborn: questionnaire study
BMJ, June 10, 2006; 332(7554): 1363.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
G. C. Yost, P. C. Young, and K. F. Buchi
Significance of Grunting Respirations in Infants Admitted to a Well-Baby Nursery
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, March 1, 2001; 155(3): 372 - 375.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
R. Straussberg, R. Shapiro, M. Ginzberg, H. A. Cohen, and I. Varsano
Posterior Fossa Tumors Presenting As Meningoencephalitis
Clinical Pediatrics, September 1, 1993; 32(9): 552 - 554.
[PDF]