Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness

Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)

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• All sick children must be routinely assessed for major symptoms, and for young infants (up to 2 months: diarrhoea), for children 2 months up to 5 years: cough or difficult breathing, diarrhoea, fever and ear problem.
• Only a limited number of carefully selected clinical signs are used, based on evidence of their sensitivity and specificity to detect disease.
• All infants and children should be tested for HIV at birth. (correct)
• The IMCI guidelines address most, but not all, of the major reasons a sick child is brought to a clinic. The guidelines do not cover all aspects of child care including the care at birth and the management of trauma or other acute emergencies due to accidents or injuries.
• All sick young infants age up to 2 months must be examined for signs of "possible serious bacterial infection" and all children 2 months to 5 years must be examined for "general danger signs" which indicate the need for immediate referral or admission to a hospital.