The perks of prognostic biomarkers: A paradigm switch in the triage of sick febrile patients

Abstract

Fever is indisputably one of the most common symptoms triggering the quest for health care provision, globally, but particularly so in low and middle-income countries (LMIC), where infectious diseases remain highly prevalent, and where fever is a well-known cause of premature mortality. The epidemiology of fever is highly variable, with a myriad of different potential etiologies, and heavily dependent on a variety of parameters, including among others, the age of the individual affected, the presence of concomitant conditions, the geographical distribution and circulation of different pathogens, and the implementation of different control measures destined to decrease the risk of certain diseases.