CPD Articles

A primary healthcare approach to children with fever

Indiran Govender, Henry I. Okonta
South African Family Practice | Vol 68, No 1 : Part 1| a6199 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v68i1.6199 | © 2026 Indiran Govender, Henry I. Okonta | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 18 July 2025 | Published: 23 February 2026

About the author(s)

Indiran Govender, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa
Henry I. Okonta, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

A child with fever presenting with concerned caregivers is a common occurrence in primary healthcare in South Africa. Many fevers are self-limiting. However, serious and possibly fatal diseases must be excluded before discharging the child. This article is a guideline for primary care practitioners, which needs to be read in conjunction with the management guidelines for specific diseases.

Keywords

antibiotics; children; fever; infections; National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guidelines; antipyretic

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