The febrile child

The febrile child


About

Fever is a frequent trigger for emergency presentations in children, often driven by caregiver misconceptions and limited access to primary healthcare, placing paramedics at the forefront of assessment and management in challenging out-of-hospital environments. This course equips paramedics with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of paediatric fever, exploring the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre’s role in maintaining core body temperature, distinguishing fever from hyperthermia, and evaluating temperature measurement methods for accuracy and suitability across age groups and clinical contexts. Through evidence-based, case-driven modules, you will examine the immune-mediated mechanisms of fever, and develop skills to identify red flags for serious conditions and deliver effective patient education to reassure and empower caregivers.

Learning objectives:

  • Examine the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre, identifying how it balances heat production and dissipation to maintain a stable core body temperature.
  • Differentiate between fever and hyperthermia.
  • Identify body temperature ranges across different age groups and measurement sites, including normal temperatures and fever thresholds.
  • Compare the accuracy, indications, and limitations of various temperature measurement methods (rectal, oral, axillary, tympanic, temporal artery) in out-of-hospital settings.
  • Apply knowledge of temperature measurement methods to select appropriate methods based on patient age and clinical context.
  • Examine the immune-mediated process of fever, including the role of pyrogens and prostaglandin E2 in elevating the hypothalamic set point.

Note: The course will open in a new tab; please ensure your browser has pop-ups enabled.

Details

Length

90 minutes

Released

29th May 2025

Cost

Member free

Share

Logo

The College is the peak professional body representing and supporting paramedics and student paramedics across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand since 1973.

The College acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land and sea in which we live and work, we recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and culture and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.

The College acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa New Zealand.