After you have classified a child's dehydration, you need to classify what kind of diarrhoea the child has. As you read earlier in this study session, a child who has had diarrhoea for 14 days or more should be classified as having persistent diarrhoea. There are two classifications of persistent diarrhoea, which are linked to the level of dehydration in the child:

  • Severe persistent diarrhoea. If a child has had diarrhoea for 14 days or more and also has some or severe dehydration, you should classify the child's illness as severe persistent diarrhoea.
  • Persistent diarrhoea. If a child has had diarrhoea for 14 days or more and without a sign of dehydration, you should classify the child's illness as persistent diarrhoea.

Give One Dose of Vitamin A as Pre-Referral Treatment for Severe /Persistent Diarrhoea and Then Refer

Dehydration present SEVERE PERSISTENT DIARRHOEA
  • Give Vitamin A.
  • Refer URGENTLY to health/hospital with the mother giving frequent sips of ORS on the way.
  • Advise the mother to continue breastfeeding.
  • Advise mother on the need for a referral.
    		•
    No dehydration PERSISTENT DIARRHOEA
  • Give Vitamin A.
  • Advise mother on the need for a referral.
  • Advise the mother to continue breastfeeding.
  • Refer to health/hospital.
    		•
    AGE VITAMIN A CAPSULES
    200000 IU 100000IU 50000U
    Up to 6 months (treatment only) 1/2 capsule 1 capsule
    6 months up to 12 months 1/2 capsule 1 capsule 2 capsules
    12 months up to 5 years 1 capsule 2 capsules 4 capsules
    Last modified: Wednesday, 1 March 2017, 1:54 AM