The overall aim of the study is to provide evidence that introducing novel biomarkers evaluation at triaging (first clinical assessment), in combination with IMCI-based guidelines (SoC), is a viable strategy to enhance rapid and accurate identification of febrile children at increased risk of life-threatening infections compared to IMCI-based strategies alone (SoC), and to demonstrate whether this results in enhanced decisions of admission/referral vs discharge, and enhanced overall health outcome of children with acute fever in sub-Saharan Africa.
Who can participate
Age range2 Months – 60 Months
SexALL
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Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥2 months and \<60 months
* Written informed consent from the child's parent or caregiver
* History of fever for ≤7 days OR hypothermia (i.e., axillary temperature \<35.5ºC) OR suspected severe infection (e.g., in children with moderate or severe acute malnutrition).
* Lives within the catchment area of the study facility and must intend to continue to reside there for the duration of the study
* For the RTI sub-study only: presence of respiratory symptoms compatible with RTI.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Weight less than 2.5kg
* Main reason for consultation is an injury, trauma or acute poisoning
* Enrolled in another clinical trial testing a new drug
* Enrolled in a vaccine trial in the last 3 months.
* Any other condition determined by the investigators that makes it unlikely that the participant would complete the study