Acute Respiratory Infections
Check for any general danger signs. Any history of fever in a malaria area:
- take a blood slide
- treat for malaria (see malaria guidelines)
Fever for more than 5 days: refer for assessment.
In malaria endemic areas, a child with pneumonia and a fever of 37.5°C or more (or a history of fever) may need an antibiotic for pneumonia and an anti-malarial for malaria.
Management of a child with cough/difficult breathing
Note: Antihistamines and sedating cough mixtures MUST NOT be used in managing respiratory infections. Breast milk, warm drinks including water, and fruit are effective cough/sore throat relievers.
Pneumonia is recognised by difficulty in breathing which is either fast breathing or chest indrawing.
Definition of fast breathing:
|
Age: |
Fast breathing is defined as: |
|
< 2 months |
60 breaths per minute |
|
2 months to 12 months |
50 breaths per minute |
|
12 months to 5 years |
40 breaths per minute |
Chest indrawing is when the lower part of the chest moves in when the child breathes in.
Grunting is a soft short sound that the infant makes when breathing out.