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[Facing fever in the pediatric patient: Checklist as a tool for parents]
A Moreno Sánchez1, D Molina Herranz1, J M Aroza Ruano2
1Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España.
Insights
Parents often seek medical care for children's fever early, even without serious symptoms. A checklist can help parents assess fever's alarm signs, improving home care and reducing unnecessary pediatric consultations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fever is a common pediatric symptom, with 20%-40% of children in Western Europe seeking healthcare.
- Distinguishing serious infections from common viral illnesses is crucial in pediatric care.
- Parental recognition of fever severity and timely medical attention are key first steps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate parental understanding of fever alarm signs.
- To assess the concordance between parental and pediatrician checklists for fever symptoms.
- To determine the utility of a home assessment checklist for pediatric fever.
Main Methods:
- An analytical, cross-sectional observational study involving 100 pediatric patients.
- Data collection included sociodemographic information and checklist responses from parents/guardians.
- Pediatricians also completed a checklist for comparison with parental responses.
Main Results:
- 50% of children were seen within 48 hours of fever onset.
- 42% concordance was observed between parental and pediatrician checklist responses.
- No significant differences in concordance were found based on factors like age, siblings, or parental education level.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric fever consultations often occur early, with many children lacking serious alarm signs.
- Enhanced training on fever alarm signs is needed for all parents.
- A fever assessment checklist demonstrates high utility as a home-based tool for parents.
Introduction:
In Western Europe, 20%-40% of children with fever request health care. Most of them present trivial viral infections, however, it is essential in pediatrics to distinguish patients who present a severe infection. This process begins with the recognition of the seriousness and the subsequent search for medical attention by the parents.
Methodology:
Analytical and cross-sectional observational study. One hundred patients were selected in two health centers. Sociodemographic data were collected, together with the responses to a checklist containing the signs and symptoms to request health care in case of fever. Subsequently, the checklist was filled out by the pediatrician.
Results:
The mean age of the patients was 5.41 years. 50% consulted in the first 48h of fever evolution. In 42%, the response to all the items on the checklist was exactly the same between the companion and the pediatrician. There were no significant differences according to variables: first episode of fever (P=.262), age of the patient (P=.859), having a sibling (P=.880), family relationship of the companion (P=.648) or educational level of the companion (P=.828).
Conclusions:
Medical consultations for fever in pediatrics are carried out very early. A high percentage do not present alarm signs when they consult. There is a need to expand training on the alarm signs of fever in all parents, regardless of the number of children, age or educational level. The checklist as a tool for home assessment of fever has received high marks for its usefulness.
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Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don a fresh pair of gloves to prevent cross-infection and ensure patient safety.
Step 2: Explain the procedure to the patient to establish trust. Clear communication establishes trust with the patient, ensures they understand what to expect, promotes cooperation, and enhances comfort during the procedure.
Step 3: Assess the patient's...