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Threshold for defining fever varies with age, especially in children: A multi‐site diagnostic accuracy study.
- Source :
- Nursing Open; Sep2021, Vol. 8 Issue 5, p2705-2721, 17p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
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‐based thresholds were found to be superior to the fixed thresholds in all ages and current ear thermometers were found equivalent to rectal thermometers in infants <6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- DIAGNOSIS of fever
MEDICAL thermometry
REFERENCE values
MEDICAL equipment reliability
RESEARCH
STATISTICS
FEVER
CONFIDENCE intervals
AGE distribution
MEDICAL thermometers
INFECTION
COMPARATIVE studies
TYMPANIC membrane
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
RESEARCH funding
SENSITIVITY & specificity (Statistics)
DATA analysis
RECEIVER operating characteristic curves
ACUTE diseases
LONGITUDINAL method
CHILDREN
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20541058
- Volume :
- 8
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Nursing Open
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 151899192
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.831