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. 2007 Jan;12(1):19-21.
doi: 10.1093/pch/12.1.19.

Approach to febrile neutropenia in the general paediatric setting

Lillian Sung  1 , Donna L Johnston
Affiliations

Approach to febrile neutropenia in the general paediatric setting

Lillian Sung et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2007 Jan.

Abstract
in English, French

Febrile neutropenia is common in children with cancer and can also occur outside of the oncology setting. The present article provides an overview of febrile neutropenia from the general paediatric perspective.In cancer patients, the principles of febrile neutropenia management have remained relatively constant. For neutropenic children with cancer, empirical antibiotics should be initiated at the onset of fever. There is insufficient evidence at this point to recommend exclusively outpatient management of the child with cancer-related febrile neutropenia.Far less is known about febrile neutropenia in the noncancer setting. The approach to this condition should be influenced by the underlying condition and its associated risk of invasive infection and serious outcome in the absence of hospitalization and empirical antibiotic therapy.

La neutropénie fébrile est monnaie courante chez les enfants cancéreux, mais elle peut également se produire hors du cadre oncologique. La présente analyse donne un aperçu de la neutropénie fébrile en pédiatrie générale.

Chez les patients cancéreux, les principes de prise en charge de la neutropénie fébrile demeurent relativement constants. Il faut administrer des antibiotiques de manière empirique aux enfants cancéreux neutropéniques dès l’apparition de la fièvre. Pour l’instant, les données probantes sont trop rares pour qu’on puisse recommander de prendre en charge les patients cancéreux neutropéniques exclusivement en consultations externes.

On en sait beaucoup moins sur la neutropénie fébrile hors du cadre oncologique. La démarche privilégiée relativement à ce trouble devrait dépendre de l’état sous-jacent et de son risque connexe d’infection envahissante et d’issue grave en l’absence d’hospitalisation et d’antibiothérapie empirique.

Keywords: Cancer; Children; Empirical antibiotics; Febrile neutropenia.

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