Fever in children as a reason for hospital admission.

Abstract

Fever is one of the main reasons for pediatric hospital admission in Latin America. This review article analyzes literature on pediatric hospitalizations for fever in Latin America and Ecuador, published between 2020 and 2025, with viral and bacterial infections being the predominant causes, while multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a relevant entity. Infants under one year of age, children with comorbidities, and those with alarm signs (seizures, hypoxia, altered mental status, or shock) present a higher risk of ICU admission and complications. Prevention strategies, such as vaccination, timely access to health services, and community education, contribute to reducing hospitalizations; therefore, early diagnosis and comprehensive management of fever are indispensable for decreasing the hospital burden and improving clinical outcomes.