Integrated Management of

Childhood Illness
IMCI is a global initiative to reduce death and illness in children under five. It is
a comprehensive approach to child health built around quality care.

AA by Amira Azman
Assessment and Classification of Illnesses

Fever Cough and Cold Diarrhea

Fever is a common symptom in
children. Healthcare providers
are taught how to assess the
severity of a fever and provide
care accordingly.
IMCI guidelines help healthcare
providers distinguish between
severe and mild respiratory
infections and provide the
appropriate care.
Assessment of dehydration status
and provision of oral rehydration
therapy are important
components of IMCI for
managing diarrhea.

Rash and Skin Infection

IMCI guidelines cover the

management of common skin
conditions like impetigo, eczema,
and fungal infections in children.
Treatment of Common Childhood Illnesses
Antibiotics Antipyretics and Analgesics

Antibiotics are prescribed based on the diagnosis Appropriate use of fever and pain relievers like
and severity of illness, with attention to national paracetamol and ibuprofen can relieve discomfort,
guidelines and resistance patterns reduce fever, and improve feeding.

Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) Antimalarials

ORS is provided to children with diarrhea to Children who test positive for malaria should
prevent or treat dehydration, along with zinc receive prompt and effective treatment based on
supplementation to reduce the duration of national guidelines and drug resistance patterns.
diarrhea.
Prevention and Management of Malnutrition
and Anemia

1 Breastfeeding Promotion & Support

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for up to two
years can prevent malnutrition, anemia, and other illnesses.

2 Complementary Feeding

IMCI aims to promote healthy complementary feeding practices, including age-appropriate and
diverse foods, frequency, and hygiene.

3 Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)

Children with severe acute malnutrition require specialized treatment with ready-to-use
therapeutic foods, nutrient supplements, and medical care.

4 Prevention and Treatment of Anemia

Iron and folic acid supplementation, deworming, and dietary diversification can prevent and treat
anemia in children.
Management of Feeding Problems and
Breastfeeding
• IMCI encourages and promotes breastfeeding as a means of providing optimal nutrition, building immunity,
and enhancing maternal bonding.
• IMCI outlines strategies and measures to support breastfeeding, including education, counseling, and
management of common breastfeeding problems.
• IMCI also recognizes the need to identify and manage feeding problems such as poor weight gain, refusal to
feed, and vomiting.
Counseling and Support for Caregivers

Communication Skills Group Counseling Involvement of Male

Effective communication is key to
supporting and empowering
caregivers to promote child health,
engage in preventive practices and
adhere to treatment.
Group counseling is an effective
method to educate and empower
caregivers to recognize and
respond to the needs of their
children.
Caregivers
Involvement of male caregivers is
encouraged through community
outreach programs, family
education and counseling to
support maternal and child health.
Effective Implementation Strategies for IMCI

1 Training and Support for

Healthcare Providers

IMCI trainings focus on building the skills

Strengthening Healthcare
Systems and Facilities
IMCI acknowledges the need to invest in
healthcare infrastructure, equipment,
supervision systems, and supply chain
management to ensure availability,
affordability and accessibility of essential
medicines and supplies.
Monitoring and Evaluation of
Program Impact
2 and knowledge of healthcare providers,
team building, and problem-solving to
enable them to deliver high-quality care.
3 Community Engagement and
Awareness Campaigns
IMCI recognizes the need to engage
communities and empower them to
participate in decision making, spread
4 awareness, and advocate for child health.

IMCI advocates for the establishment of

systems for routine monitoring and
evaluation of implementation of IMCI
guidelines and program impact. This
enables programs to track the progress of
activities, identify gaps and weaknesses,
and improve quality over time.
Conclusion and Future Directions for IMCI

IMCI has proven to be a cost-effective intervention for improving child survival, health, and development. Despite
its success, there is a need to strengthen its sustainability, scalability, and quality of care.

• IMCI needs to be integrated with other health and development programs to reduce duplication, reduce
workload, and improve collaboration.
• There is a need to align IMCI with national policies, guidelines and programs as well as with the broader
health agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Success stories and best practices for IMCI need to be shared and disseminated across countries and regions
to ensure the success of the program.