Pediatric Adaptation

General Guidelines
PREPARED BY: NICAH JEAN
LUMINDOG
6 General Guidelines
1. IMMUNISE AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY
 Always check the Baby Clinic Book and immunize if the child is due or overdue. Refer to
immunization guidance and schedule.

2. ADMIT CHILDREN WHO HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

 Intercostal recession or chest indrawing

 Severe dehydration

Convulsion with fever

Fever and not sucking or breast feeding

 Drowsiness, confusion, lethargy or unconscious
 Continued vomiting, abdominal pain or abdominal distension
 Oedema (swelling)
 Severe malnutrition
 Sudden onset of paralysis
 Swelling of limb or joint
 Under 6 months with whooping cough
 Stridor (noisy breathing)
 Swallowed poison
 Passing blood in the urine
 Vomits everything, vomiting blood
 Passing a lot of blood in the stool
 History of unconsciousness after head injury
 Suspicious injuries that do not fit the history given
3. ALWAYS WEIGH THE CHILD
This is important for:
 Giving correct fluid rates and medication dosage
 Tracking weight loss or poor weight gain
 Assessing dehydration
 Plot the weight on the weight chart in the child’s clinic book

4. PROPER AND CAREFUL USE OF ANTIBIOTICS

 Do not give single doses of antibiotics or antimalarials when a full course is needed
 To reduce the risk of ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, always give the recommended course
and encourage parents to give every dose
5. AVOID GIVING INJECTIONS UNLESS VERY UNWELL
 Always use a new needle and syringe when giving injections
 Contaminated needles may transmit HIV and other serious infections
 Intramuscular injections to children less than 2 years of age should be given in the upper and
outer part of the thigh.

6. ON PRESENTATION TO HEALTH FACILITY, ALWAYS:

 Weigh every child
 Measure the height or length of the child & the ‘middle upper arm circumference’ (MUAC)
 Record all the above details in the Baby Book
 Check and record all vital signs (including oxygen saturations if available)
 Check for up-to-date immunization and plan for any catch-up vaccinations when child is well