Relative bradycardia is not a feature of enteric fever in children

We investigated pulse-temperature relationships in 66 children with enteric fever (group 1) and in 76 with other infections (group 2), Group 1 childre n were older than group 2 children (mean age +/- SD, 91 +/- 36 vs. 66 +/- 3 2 months, respectively; P <.001) and had mean oral temperatures +/- SD simi lar to those of group 2 children (38.3 +/- 1.0 vs. 38.3 +/- 0.9 degrees C, respectively; P >.2); however, group 1 children had lower mean baseline pul se rates +/- SD than did group 2 children (119 +/- 25 vs. 127 +/- 28 beats/ min, respectively; P <.001). In a multiple linear regression model, pulse r ate was independently associated with age (inversely; P <.001) and oral tem perature (positively; P <.006) but not with diagnostic group or gender (P > .5). After adjustment of the mean initial pulse rate +/- SD to age of 72 mo nths, there was no difference between group 1 and group 2 children (126 +/- 24 vs. 126 +/- 20 beats/min, respectively; P >.5). From 4 to 72 hours afte r commencement of treatment, the mean oral temperature in group 1 patients was similar to 0.3 degrees C higher than that in group 2 patients, and the age-adjusted pulse rate was 5 beats/min higher in group 1 children than In group 2 children. These data suggest that relative bradycardia is not chara cteristic of enteric fever in children.