Approach to Fever in Children

Fever in children and infants is a common presenting complaint. We look at the potential causes of fever in children as well as red flag symptoms. Also includes fever pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.

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Timestamps:
0:00 What is a fever?
0:44 Fever Pathophysiology
1:35 How does Fever help fight infections?
1:59 Fever vs Hyperthermia
2:20 Most Common Causes of Fever in Children
3:45 Signs and Symptoms
5:44 Spotting the Unwell Child
6:41 Diagnosis of Fever in Children
8:47 Treatment of Fever in Children

References:

1. BMJ Best Practice (2023) Assessment of fever in children. Available at https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/692/diagnosis-approach
2. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (2023) Feverish Children Risk Assessment and Management. Available at https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/feverish-children-risk-assessment-management/
3. NICE (2019) Traffic light system for identifying risk of serious illness in under 5. Available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143/resources/support-for-education-and-learning-educational-resource-traffic-light-table-pdf-6960664333
4. Consolini, D - MSD Manuals Pro (2022) Fever in Infants and Children. Available at https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional/pediatrics/symptoms-in-infants-and-children/fever-in-infants-and-children
5. Meningitis Now Meningitis symptoms in children. Available at https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-explained/signs-and-symptoms/signs-and-symptoms-children/
6. Upton D. Allen - Canadian Paediatric Society (2018) The use of antiviral drugs for influenza: Guidance for practitioners. Available at https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/antiviral-drugs-for-influenza

Please remember this podcast and all content from Rhesus Medicine is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used as a guide to diagnose or to treat. Please consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.