A5V4d

Feverish illness in children
Figure 2.3 Mortality in children aged 1 month to 5 years in England and Wales caused by infection or diseases of
the respiratory or nervous system, 2004 to 2010; data from Office of National Statistics.
In addition, new evidence is available on a number of the clinical questions covered by the guideline:
30
Deaths
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Year
the relationship of heart rate to fever in predicting the risk of serious illness in children
clinical effectiveness of combination or alternating therapy with paracetamol and
ibuprofen in the management of fever in children
predictive value and accuracy of pro-calcitonin as a marker of serious bacterial illness in
children with fever without apparent source.
2.2 For whom is this guideline intended
This clinical guideline is intended for use by all healthcare professionals who are involved in the care
or management of young children with feverish illnesses. The guideline is intended for use in the full
range of healthcare settings provided for children with acute illnesses, including both primary and
secondary care. For the purposes of this guideline, primary care includes services such as NHS
Direct, where the assessment of the child may not include a physical examination. The term specialist
paediatric care has been used to define services where the child will be cared for and managed by
trained paediatric staff. For the most part, the term refers to hospital paediatric departments and
specialist children’s emergency departments.
2.3 Related NICE guidance
Urinary tract infection in children. NICE clinical guideline 54 (2007).
Diarrhoea and vomiting in children under 5. NICE clinical guideline 84 (2009).
Medicines adherence. NICE clinical guidance 76 (2011).
Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia, NICE clinical guideline 102(2010).
Medicines adherence. NICE clinical guidance 76 (2011).
Respiratory system
Nervous system
Infectious
2013 Update