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Safeguarding

Managing fever in children under 5

02 January 2025
Clinical
02 January 2025
Volume 2 · Issue 1

Abstract

Fever is common in children under the age of 5 and often the result of self-limiting viral infections. It is one of the main reasons parents or carers seek medical advice for this age group; therefore, it is important to provide them with clear guidance on the assessment and management of fever in infants and young children.

Fever in children under 5 years of age is a common presenting problem for parents, and one of the most frequent reasons why they seek medical attention (Barbi et al, 2017). It can affect 70% of preschool-aged children, leading to a substantial amount of parents or carers seeking medical care (Hussain et al, 2020; Sakr et al, 2022). Although it is common in this age group, it rarely indicates a serious illness (Sakr et al, 2022). Education about fever is, therefore, an important issue for all health professionals supporting parents and carers of children under 5.

A fever is a physiological defence mechanism characterised by an elevation of body temperature above the normal range (Whitburn et al, 2011). It is defined by a rectal temperature of ≥38 °C or by axillary temperatures of ≥37.5 °C (Ogoina, 2011; Whitburn et al, 2011).

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Fever
Symptoms
Thermometer
Treatment
Under-5s