Summary

In this Study Session, you have learned:

• How to assess and classify diarrhoea in children under five years. You looked at how to treat the sick child when you need to refer a child urgently to the hospital, what follow-up care is required, and what advice on home for diarrhoea treatment to the mother or child's caregiver.
  
• You have learned that diarrhoea is a common illness among children under five years of age in Ethiopia.
• To assess and classify diarrhoea in a child or young infant the steps you should take care:
  • Look for general danger signs.
  • Ask for the duration of diarrhoea.
  • Assess for signs of dehydration.
  • Ask about blood in the stool.
• Based on your assessment, you classify the child for:
  • Dehydration.
  • Persistent or severe persistent diarrhoea.
  • Dysentery.
• How to treat a child with diarrhoea and refer a child with severe dehydration, dysentery, severe persistent diarrhoea and persistent diarrhoea.