Evaluating Triage Accuracy and Vital Sign Indicators for Serious Illness in Febrile Children Attending Pediatric Emergency Departments in Turkey

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating how well the Turkish Ministry of Healths three-level color-coded triage system Red, Yellow, Green predicts serious clinical outcomes in children aged 0 to 18 years who come to pediatric emergency departments with fever. This observational study also examines whether specific vital signs taken at triage, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen levels, capillary refill time, consciousness level, and overall appearance, add useful information beyond the triage category. The study involves multiple centers across Turkey and aims to better understand early indicators of serious illness in febrile children. Children presenting with a fever of 38.0C or higher at triage, or with a history of recent fever, are enrolled consecutively over a 3-month period at ten pediatric emergency departments. Each child receives routine triage using the Ministry of Healths system, and physiological data are recorded on a standardized form without influencing clinical decisions. The study does not alter usual care or triage, focusing instead on observing and analyzing data already collected during routine visits. Participants undergo standard triage assessments and their clinical outcomes are monitored for up to 30 days, including serious events like hospital admission, sepsis protocol activation, intravenous treatments, and re-attendance with admission. Researchers collect and analyze this data to evaluate triage accuracy and the added value of vital signs in predicting outcomes. The total participation period for each child corresponds to their emergency visit and follow-up within 30 days, with no additional interventions or changes to usual care.

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