RT Journal
A1 Punnoose AR, Golub RM, Lynm C
T1 EValuating possible infections in early infancy
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2012
FD July 4
VO 308
IS 1
SP 95
OP 95
DO 10.1001/jama.2012.3945
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.3945
AB 
The schedule recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for most childhood immunizations begins when infants are 6 to 8 weeks old. Infants younger than 2 months are considered at high risk of developing serious infections from various bacteria and many viruses. Because their immune systems are immature, infants may not appear very ill even when they have a serious bacterial infection, and missing such an infection could have severe consequences. Infants have a poor ability to develop fever in response to infection. Therefore, when an infant younger than 2 months develops any fever (rectal temperature of 100.4oF or higher), physicians conduct a thorough evaluation to look for any bacterial infections.