A5V4d

Guideline summary
The GDG also considered which diagnoses would fulfil this definition and, after consulting the
literature, the following list of terms and diagnoses was included in literature searches:
bacterial infection
serious bacterial infection
meningitis
septicaemia
bacteraemia
pneumonia
urinary tract infection
septic arthritis
osteomyelitis
Kawasaki disease
encephalitis (herpes simplex).
1.3 Who is covered by this guideline
The scope of the guideline outlines who is and who is not covered by this guideline.
Groups that will be covered by this guideline are:
Children from birth up to their 5th birthday presenting with a fever that has not been
previously diagnosed.
No patient subgroups have been identified as needing specific consideration.
Groups that will not be covered by this guideline are:
Children already admitted to hospital.
Children with a pre-existing comorbidity for which fever is already covered by an
established management plan by their specialist team; for example cystic fibrosis,
immunosuppression, sickle cell disease and cerebral shunts.
Children with recurring fever.
Children diagnosed with tropical diseases.
3
2013 Update