Childhood Infections

Abstract

The diagnostic value of the white blood cell (WBC) and differential cell counts in 939 children hospitalized with acute illness was determined. Statistically significant conclusions include the following: (1) the absolute numbers of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) per cubic millimeter or nonsegmented PMNs per cubic millimeter are more sensitive in detecting patients with bacterial infections than the more conventional WBCs per cubic millimeter, percent PMNs, or percent nonsegmented PMNs. (2) Children with > 10,000 PMNs per cubic millimeter or > 500 nonsegmented PMNs per cubic millimeter or both have an 80% chance of having a severe bacterial infection. (3) Patients with > 10,000 PMNs per cubic millimeter only are likely to have a Gram-positive bacterial infection, while those with > 500 nonsegmented PMNs per cubic millimeter only are likely to have a Gram-negative bacterial infection.