The predictive value of the NICE "red traffic lights" in acutely ill children.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Early recognition and treatment of febrile children with serious infections (SI) improves prognosis, however, early detection can be difficult. We aimed to validate the predictive rule-in value of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) most severe alarming signs or symptoms to identify SI in children.

Design, setting and participants

The 16 most severe ("red") features of the NICE traffic light system were validated in seven different primary care and emergency department settings, including 6,260 children presenting with acute illness.

Main outcome measures

We focussed on the individual predictive value of single red features for SI and their combinations. Results were presented as positive likelihood ratios, sensitivities and spec

SUBMITTER: Kerkhof E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3954615 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature