Fever
Fever in children is a normal protective mechanism, usually due to a viral infection that is self-limiting (Cameron, Jelinek,
Browne & Raftos 2006), and has certain benefits that can actually benefit the host playing an important role in immunologic defence (Paul, Mayhew & Mee 2011). In certain circumstances, a fever may indicate a more serious condition that the triage nurse should consider expediting care.
It is important as the triage nurse to understand the normal variables for children aged 0 to 5 years of age. Medical observation charts within the hospital flag normal observations for the child within these age groups. Vital signs outside these parameters should indicate a fever in a child and be considered by the triage nurse to further investigate the cause of fever.