Keeping in mind for the presence of any danger sign, chest in-drawing, stridor and breathing rate, children with a cough or difficult breathing will be classified in the table below.The table shows the severity of illness in classification and includes treatment.

Table 4.2 Assess and Classify the Sick Child With Coughs or Difficult Breathing.

SIGNS CLASSIFY TREATMENT
  • Any general danger sign or
  • Chest indrawing or
  • Stridor in a calm child
    		•  SEVERE PNEUMONIA OR VERY SEVERE DISEASE
  • Give the first dose of Cotrimoxazole/Amoxicillin.
  • Advise mother on the need for a referral.
  • Refer URGENTLY to a health centre or hospital.
    		•
  • Fast breathing
    		•  PNEUMONIA
  • Give Cotrimoxazole /Amoxicillin for five days.
  • Advise mother to soothe the throat and relieve the cough with a safe remedy and how to clean the nose.
  • Advise mother on food and fluid.
  • Advise mother when to return immediately.
  • Follow-up in 2 days.
    		•
  • No signs of pneumonia or very severe disease
    		•  NO PNEUMONIA: COUGH OR COLD
  • If coughing more than 14days, refer for assessment.
  • Soothe the throat and relieve the cough with a safe remedy and how to clean the nose.
  • Advise mother on food and fluid.
  • Advise mother when to return immediately.
  • Follow-up after 5 days if no improvement.
    		•

    How to use the classification table:

    There are three possible classifications for a child with a cough or difficult breathing:

    To classify a cough or difficult breathing:

    1. Look at the top row in the classification table which sets out the signs you need to assess.
      If the child has a general danger sign (you learned about general danger signs in Study Session 3 of this Module), chest in-drawing or stridor, you should select the severe classification given in the top (pink) row of the table: severe pneumonia or very severe disease.
    2. If the child does not have the severe classification, look at the middle (yellow) row. If the child has fast breathing, but does not have signs in the top row of the classification table, you should select the classification in the middle (yellow) row: pneumonia (see Box below).

    Classification of Pneumonia


    1. If the child does not have any of the signs in the top (pink) or middle(yellow) row, select the classification in the bottom (green) row: no pneumonia: cough or cold.
      If the child has signs from more than one row, always select the top more serious classification.
      • If a child has a cough, a general danger sign and fast breathing, how would you classify the child?
      • You should classify the child with the more serious classification - severe pneumonia or very severe disease (see Box below).

    Classification of Severe Pneumonia

    You have looked at the steps at the different classifications of cough or difficult breathing. Now you are going to learn about the treatment that should be provided to the sick child.

    Last modified: Wednesday, 1 March 2017, 1:53 AM