Droplet digital PCR aids in the diagnosis of children with fever of unknown origin ——A typical case report

Many clinical conditions can cause fever of unknown origin (FUO) in children, but the etiological diagnosis remains challenging despite the variety of inspection methods available at present. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) in identifying pathogens in children with FUO as a novel application. A 7-month-old boy failed to obtain etiology evidence for his disease through various tests. After collecting peripheral blood for ddPCR analysis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were detected, and Sanger sequencing confirmed the pathogens. During the disease, the child developed septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in the femur. Despite the patient’s fever being removed, his limb activity improving, and inflammatory biomarkers decreasing, avascular necrosis of the femoral head remained after targeted antibiotic treatment and surgery. If the patient had undergone ddPCR analysis at an early stage, it may be possible to avoid sequelae. ddPCR helps identify pathogens in the diagnosis of children with FUO and could be a promising complementary tool.