Clinical Profile and Pediatric Patterns in Predicting Sepsis Among Febrile Inpatients at an Indian Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: Sepsis is a global perpetrator of pediatric morbidity and mortality. This research aims to analyze the clinical profile of febrile pediatric patients with a risk of sepsis to study underlying patterns involved and understand clinician perspectives to ensure diagnostic accuracy and assess the management and outcomes. Methods: In this prospective cross sectional descriptive study 300 febrile inpatients of 1 month to 13 years of age with one or more sepsis warning signs were examined. Patient factors affecting progression towards sepsis were analyzed, along with age-related patterns of tachycardia and tachypnea. Risk of developing sepsis was compared with degree of elevation in TLC, patient admission and outcome on discharge. The study also extended towards segregating most relied markers of sepsis by comparing prevalence among various risk groups. Results: Factors such as male gender, infancy, and incomplete vaccination status were found to increase the chances of developing sepsis. Diverse diagnoses heightened sepsis likelihood to varying extents. Tachycardia and tachypnea followed a pattern of manifesting most among infants. The study demonstrated a direct link between rising sepsis risk and elevating TLC levels. Quantification of PS6 interventions demonstrated that adrenaline was the most commonly used ionotrope and IVF DNS was the most used isotonic fluid. Conclusion: The unpredictable nature of pediatric sepsis can be tackled by an effective understanding of the patterns by which it manifests. Early detection of sepsis relies on pediatric patterns and established symptomatology approved commonly among clinicians which demands constant evaluation to ensure appropriateness and diagnostic consistency. Keywords: Biomarkers, Acute febrile illness, Pediatric Intensive care Unit (PICU), Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), SIRS