The Change of Serum Cholesterol level in Children with Fever

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to assess the change of the serum cholesterol level according to the duration of fever in children. METHODS: A retrospective study presents data on fasting serum cholesterol assessed 346 children aged from 3 to 14 years, admitted to National Medical Center from Jan. 1992 to Jun. 1994 due to febrile disease. These patients were divided into three groups according to the duration of fever at the time of cholesterol measurement. Group 1 comprised children in whom cholesterol was evaluated on the first 2day of fever, group 2 children in whom cholesterol was assessed on day 3 to 5 and group 3 subjects evaluated 6 to 20 days after the onset of fever. 200 healthy children without fever were also enrolled in this study. The fasting serum cholesterol levels were also measured in both febrile period and afebrile convalescent period in 34 children with febrile diseases during the 7months period of Apr. to Oct. 1994. RESULTS: As the retrospective study, the fasting serum cholesterol levels of group 1, 2 and 3 were lower than those of the controls. And the difference of the serum cholesterol levels between group 1 and group 3 was significant. The prospective study was significantly associated with a decrease of serum cholesterol in the febrile period compared with that in the convalescent period. CONCLUSIONS: Timing of blood collection for screening test and diagnostic measurement of serum cholesterol level should be carefully defined taking into account that febrile illnesses are biologic variables that may significantly affect serum cholesterol.