ICCM case management process

Integrated community case management is the overall activities that the health extension practitioners are doing in the health post to manage childhood illness. It is starting from case assessment process to follow-up care of the patient this includes:

• Assessment.
• Classification.
• Treatment.
• Advice & follow up care.

Assessment is the way of finding of childhood illness or any other childhood health problems. Classification of childhood diseases is done using a colour code on the chart booklet:

• Pink colour shows the sick child requires pre-referral treatment and referral.
• Yellow colour shows the child needs medical care and advice at the health post.
• Green colour means the child requires home management only.

Treatment is performed after classification. You will select the appropriate treatment and provide the medication to the sick child. Before discharging you should advise the mother how to give the medicine to her children at home.

You should always use the chart booklet whenever you manage the child's illness.

The ICCM is presented on two different sets of charts: one for managing sick young infants aged from birth up to two months (0 - 2 months) and a separate one for managing sick children or old infant aged from two months up to five years (2 months - 5 years). First, you select the chart before classification and management of the disease depending on the age of the child. The treatment of young infant is different from the treatment of older infants.

Give advice and follow-up care after treatment. Advise the mothers about home care, medication, breastfeeding or complementary feeding, immunisation and prevention mechanisms and then provide a follow-up card to the mother to return for the next visit.