Fever in burned children

The patterns of rectal temperature (T(r)) and skin surface temperatures (T(thigh) and T(toe)) of 40 children were studied during the first 48 h after burn injury. The patients' ages ranged from 5 months to 12 years and all required intravenous resuscitation. On admission T(r) measured 2-6 h after the burn, ranged from 36.5 to 39.0°C and 19 children had temperatures >37.5°C; the upper limit of the normal range for healthy children. Patients 5-12 months old had the lowest T(r) during the early period. During the first 12 h T(r) rose rapidly and 27 patients (67 per cent) had a fever (T(r)>38.5°C). In 10 children T(r) was >40.0°C. There was no relationship between the rise in T(r) and the sex of the patient, the ambient temperature, the size, site or type of burn. Age was the most important variable, particularly during the first 12 h, where a positive correlation between T(r) and age occurred in patients aged 5-23 months (P