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

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.

Conditions

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

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kayseri City Hospital

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Adana City Training and Research Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Cukurova University

  collaborator OTHER

• Akdeniz University

  collaborator OTHER

• Manisa Celal Bayar University

  collaborator OTHER

• Eskisehir Osmangazi University

  collaborator OTHER

• Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Dokuz Eylul University

  collaborator OTHER

• Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

  collaborator OTHER

• TC Erciyes University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Yilmaz Secilmis · TC Erciyes University

Eligibility

Min Age

0 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-07-28

Primary Completion

2026-11-01

Completion

2026-12-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations