Threshold for defining fever varies with age, especially in children: A multi-site diagnostic accuracy study.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the European Centre for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine guideline define fever as a temperature >38.0°C for all ages and recommend use of rectal thermometers in children <3 years. Based on new literature, this definition of fever using a fixed threshold of 38.0°C needs to be re-examined.

Design

A multi-site diagnostic accuracy study was conducted to compare an "age-based" threshold model with a "fixed" threshold over 38.0°C on a total of 894 patients of which 373 were ill.

Methods

The "age-based" and "fixed" threshold fever determinations were then compared to a clinical categorization ("well" or "ill") conducted by a clinician through a comprehensive examination.

Results

The sensitivity and accuracy for the age-base

SUBMITTER: Kasbekar R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8363342 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature