Age-specific vital signs and laboratory parameters.
(lower values for heart rate, leukocyte count, and systolic blood pressure are for the 5th percentile and upper values are for 95th percentile).
| Age-Groupa | Heart rate (beats/min)b,c | Respiratory rate (breaths/min)d | Leukocyte count (leukocytes × 103/mm3)b,c | Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)b,c,e,f | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tachycardia | Bradycardia | ||||
| 0 day–1 week | >180 | <100 | >50 | >34 | <59 |
| 1 week–1 month | >180 | <100 | >40 | >19.5 or <5 | <75 |
| 1 month–1 year | >180 | <90 | >34 | >17.5 or <5 | <75 |
| 2–5 years | >140 | NA | >22 | >15.5 or <6 | <74 |
| 6–12 years | >130 | NA | >18 | >13.5 or < 4.5 | <83 |
| 13– < 18 years | >110 | NA | >14 | >11 or < 4.5 | <90 |
a
Modified from: Parker MM. Pathophysiology of cardiovascular dysfunction in septic shock. New Horiz.1998;6:130–138.
b
Modified from: Rudolph CD, Rudolph AM (Eds). Rudolph’s Pediatrics – 21st Edition. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. New York, NY. 2002.