FEVER IN INFANTS: A REVIEW OF EXISTING GUIDELINES

Key words: Fever, Infant, Guidelines

Existing guidelines for the case-management of the infant with fever are reviewed. Distinct approaches have been recommended for different age groups: 0-1 month, 1-3 months, 3-36 months, and for temperatures below 38 °C or above 39 °C. Although all the proposed guidelines are characterised by comprehensive and sometimes invasive approach, immediate identification of potentially serious disease cannot be ensured in all cases. Guidelines on febrile infants are among the less satisfactory in paediatric practice, and for this reason their actual implementation is rather poor.