Integrated Management of

Childhood Illness
 Objectives of the Study

 To know the rationale behind Integrated

Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)
development.
 To enumerate IMCI objectives and components.
 To enumerate who are the children covered by the
IMCI protocol.
 To discuss the strategies and principles of IMCI.
 IMCI

 Introduced since 1995

 IMCI is a major strategy for child survival, healthy

growth and development and is based on the
combined delivery of essential interventions at
community, health facility and health systems levels
 IMCI includes elements of prevention as
well as curative

 In the Philippines, IMCI was started on a

pilot basis in 1996
 Rationale for
an integrated approach in the
management of sick children
 Majority of these deaths are caused by
5 preventable and treatable conditions namely:
 Objectives of IMCI

 Reduce death and frequency and severity of

illness and disability, and

 Contribute to improved growth and

development
 Components of IMCI

 Improving case management skills of health workers

11-day Basic Course for RHMs, PHNs and MOHs
5 - day Facilitators course
5 – day Follow-up course for IMCI Supervisors
 Improving over-all health systems

 Improving family and community health practices

Who are the children covered by the IMCI
protocol?

Sick children birth up to 2

months (Sick Young Infant)

Sick children 2 months up

to 5 years old (Sick child)
 Strategies/Principles of IMCI

1. All sick children aged 2 months up to 5

years are examined for GENERAL DANGER
signs and all Sick Young Infants Birth up to 2
months are examined for VERY SEVERE
DISEASE AND LOCAL BACTERIAL
INFECTION. These signs indicate immediate
referral or admission to hospital
 Strategies/Principles of IMCI

 The children and infants are then assessed for

main symptoms. For sick children, the main
symptoms include: cough or difficulty breathing,
diarrhea, fever and ear infection. For sick young
infants, local bacterial infection, diarrhea and
jaundice. All sick children are routinely
assessed for nutritional, immunization and
deworming status and for other problems
 Strategies/Principles of IMCI

 Only a limited number of clinical signs are used

A combination of individual signs leads to

a child’s classification within one or more
symptom groups rather than a diagnosis.
 Strategies/Principles of IMCI

 IMCI management procedures use limited number

of essential drugs and encourage active participation
of caretakers in the treatment of children

 Counseling of caretakers on home care, correct

feeding and giving of fluids, and when to return to
clinic is an essential component of IMCI.
 BASIS FOR CLASSIFYING THE CHILD’S
ILLNESS

The child’s illness is classified based on a color-

coded triage system:
 PINK- indicates urgent hospital referral or
admission
 YELLOW- indicates initiation of specific Outpatient
Treatment
 GREEN – indicates supportive home care