Introduction
Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms (see Section 17, Chapter 190); only some bacteria cause disease in people. The most common bacterial infections among children are skin infections (including impetigo), ear infections, and throat infections (strep throat). These disorders are treated similarly in adults and children. Other infections occur at all ages but have particular treatment considerations in children.
Certain children are at particular risk for bacterial infections. These children include infants younger than 2 months of age, children who have no spleen or who have an immune system disorder, and children who have sickle cell disease.
Sometimes doctors diagnose bacterial infections by the typical symptoms they produce. Usually, however, bacteria must be identified in samples of tissue or body fluids, such as blood, urine, pus, or cerebrospinal fluid. Sometimes bacteria from these samples can be recognized under a microscope or identified with a rapid detection test. Usually, however, they are too few or too small to see, so doctors must try to grow them in the laboratory. It typically takes 24 to 48 hours to grow (culture) the organism. Cultures can also be used to test the susceptibility of a microorganism to various antibiotics; the results can help a doctor determine which drug to use in treating an infected child. Doctors may treat certain potentially serious childhood infections with antibiotics, preemptively while culture results are pending and then change or discontinue the antibiotics when results are obtained.
 See the sidebar Bacterial Infections Preventable With Routine Immunization.
|
