Improving Care for Children With Fever Using a Finger-Prick C-Reactive Protein Test in Primary Care A Multicenter Randomized Study for Children Ages 3 Months to 15 Years

What this Trial Is About

Fever is a common reason for children aged 3 months to 15 years to visit healthcare providers. It can be hard to tell if the fever is caused by a viral or bacterial infection just by examining the child, which sometimes requires additional tests like measuring C-reactive protein CRP. This study looks at using a capillary medical device to measure CRP directly in primary care to help reduce unnecessary referrals to emergency rooms and labs, improving care for febrile children and easing healthcare system burdens. The study compares two groups one using capillary CRP measurement with the ACTIM-CRP device and a control group without this intervention. Children are randomly assigned to these groups during their primary care visit when they have a fever that meets specific duration and severity conditions. The study runs from September 2025 to June 2027 and focuses on referral rates and other outcomes related to care pathways for febrile children. Participants will be involved in the study during their initial consultation and followed up for up to seven days to monitor referrals, antibiotic prescriptions, satisfaction of both general practitioners and parents, fever duration, and cost impacts. Data on complementary tests and healthcare usage will also be collected to understand the effects of using capillary CRP testing in primary care. The study aims to improve the efficiency and quality of care for children with fever.

Optimizing the Care Pathway of Febrile Children Via Capillary C-reactive Protein Assay in Primary Care