Date of publication:

2005

Published by:

World Health Organization

ARC Catalog Number:

NA

Description:

This pocket book is for use by doctors, senior nurses and other senior health workers who are responsible for the car of young children at the first referral level in developing countries. It presents up-to-date clinical guidelines which are based on a review of the available published evidence by subject experts, for both inpatient and outpatient care in small hospitals where basic laboratory facilities and essential drugs and inexpensive medicines are available. In some settings, these guidelines can be used in the larger health centers where a small number of sick children can be admitted for inpatient care.

The guidelines require the hospital to have (1) the capacity to carry out certain essential investigations – such as blood smear examinations for malaria parasites, estimations of hemoglobin or packed cell volume and blood glucose, blood grouping and cross-matching, and basic microscopy of CSF and urine- and (2) essential drugs available for the care of seriously ill children. Expensive treatment options, such as new antibiotics or mechanical ventilation, are not described.

Thee guidelines focus on the inpatient management of the major causes of childhood mortality, such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, severe malnutrition, malaria, meningitis, measles, and related conditions. They cover neonatal problems and surgical conditions of children which can be managed in small hospitals.