A5V4d

10.2 When to seek further help
Advice for home care
In addition to advice about how to care for their febrile child at home, parents and carers also need
advice about when they should seek further attention from the health services. This should allow them
to take appropriate action if their child deteriorates or does not recover as expected.
Review question
In children with fever at home following a clinical encounter, what indications should direct the parents
or carers to seek further advice?
A lack of evidence was found about when parents should seek further advice following a contact with
a healthcare professional. Therefore the following statements were included in the Delphi survey.
Fits
Delphi statement 3.1a
Following contact with a healthcare professional, parents/carers who are looking after their feverish
child at home should seek further advice if the child suffers a fit.
The first round consensus rating categories were:
1 to 3 4 to 6 7 to 9 Don’t know Missing Total Median
0 0 52 (98%) 1 (2%) 53 9
Consensus was therefore achieved for this statement.
Less well
Delphi statement 3.1b
Following contact with a healthcare professional, parents/carers who are looking after their feverish
child at home should seek further advice if the parent/carer feels that child is less well than when they
previously sought advice.
The first round ratings categories for this statement were:
1 to 3 4 to 6 7 to 9 Don’t know Missing Total Median
0 2 (4%) 50 (94%) 1 (2%) 53 8
Consensus was therefore achieved for this statement.
Increased parental concern
Delphi statement 3.1c
Following contact with a healthcare professional, parents/carers who are looking after their feverish
child at home should seek further advice if they are more worried than when they previously sought
advice.
The first round consensus rating categories were:
1 to 3 4 to 6 7 to 9 Don’t know Missing Total Median
0 9 (17%) 43 (81%) 1 (2%) 53 8
Consensus was therefore achieved for this statement.
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