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: We investigated pulse-temperature relationships in 66 children with enteric fever (group 1) and in 76 with other infections (group 2). Group 1 children were older than group 2 children (mean age /- SD, 91 /- 36 vs. 66 /- 32 months, respectively; P < .001) and had mean oral temperatures /- SD similar 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 pulse rates /- SD than did group 2 children (119 /- 25 vs. 127 /- 28 beats/min, respectively; P < .001). In a multiple linear regression model, pulse rate was independently associated with age (inversely; P < .001) and oral temperature (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 months, 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 after commencement of treatment, the mean oral temperature in group 1 patients was ~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 characteristic of enteric fever in children.

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