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

Sponsor
TC Erciyes University
Study ID
NCT07739004
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Fever
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Sepsis
  • Serious Bacterial Infection
  • Triage

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
0 Years - 18 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Ministry of Health three-level color-coded triage — DIAGNOSTIC_TEST
    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 Details

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.

Key Dates

First listed
Jul 31, 2026
Start date
Jul 28, 2026
Status verified
Aug 2026
Primary completion
Nov 1, 2026
Completion
Dec 1, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
3,000 participants (estimated)

Arms

  • Arm: Febrile children in the pediatric emergency department
    Children aged 0-18 years presenting with fever (\>=38.0 C at triage or history of fever within the preceding 24 hours) to a participating pediatric emergency department during the 3-month study period. All undergo routine triage with the Ministry of Health three-level color-coded system; triage decisions and clinical care are not altered by the study.

Primary Outcome Measure

Composite serious clinical outcome [ Time Frame: 30 Dys ]

Central Contacts

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