Triage Performance and Physiological Predictors of Serious Illness in Febrile Children in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Ministry of Health three-level color-coded triage: At presentation, each child is assigned a triage category (Red, Yellow, or Green) by the triage nurse using the Turkish Ministry of Health three-level color-coded system, and physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, capillary refill time, AVPU level of consciousness, and general appearance) are recorded on a standardized triage form. This reflects routine care and is not modified for the study.

Study summary

This multicenter prospective observational cohort study evaluates how well the initial triage category assigned by the Turkish Ministry of Health three-level color-coded triage system (Red-Yellow-Green) predicts serious clinical outcomes in children aged 0-18 years who present with fever to pediatric emergency departments. The study additionally assesses whether physiological parameters recorded at triage (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, capillary refill time, AVPU level of consciousness, and general appearance) provide independent and incremental prognostic value beyond the assigned triage category. Ten centers across Turkey will enroll consecutive eligible febrile children over a 3-month period. Routine clinical care and triage decisions are not altered by the study. The primary outcome is a composite serious clinical outcome. The study is reported in accordance with the STROBE and TRIPOD statements.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Composite serious clinical outcome — 30 Dys
  Presence of at least one of: intensive care unit admission; invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation; vasopressor/inotropic therapy; culture- or sterile-body-fluid-confirmed invasive bacterial infection; 30-day mortality.

Trial sites (10)

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