Antibiotic stewardship is essential in pediatric fever management, as most febrile illnesses are transient and viral in origin and may not require antibiotic therapy. 1 Clinical assessment should consider the child's age, temperature and overall condition, with fever broadly stratified into green, amber and red flags to guide the need for further evaluation. 2 In infants younger than 3 months, fever is considered a red-flag presentation and warrants prompt clinical assessment.

In older infants and children, the likely cause, duration and associated symptoms should guide management; however, features such as respiratory difficulty, bulging fontanelle, severe dehydration, reduced urine output, marked irritability, excessive crying or rash should prompt urgent evaluation. 3 Watch this insightful expert session featuring practical guidance on pediatric fever assessment, antibiotic…