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Revised WHO classification and treatment of childhood pneumonia at health facilities

Authors

World Health Organization

Abstract

In the early 1980s, the global burden of childhood mortality due to pneumonia led the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a pneumonia control strategy suitable for countries with limited resources and constrained health systems. Management of pneumonia cases formed the cornerstone of this strategy. Simple signs were identified to classify varying severities of pneumonia in settings with little or no access to diagnostic technology; the classifications determined the appropriate case management actions. Children with fast breathing were classified as having “pneumonia” and were given an oral antibiotic (at that time oral cotrimoxazole) to take at home for five days. Children who had chest indrawing with or without fast breathing were classified as having “severe pneumonia” and were referred to the closest higher-level health facility for treatment with injectable penicillin.

Document details

ID:UH2030-112
Year:2014
Volume:
Issue:
ISBN:
Document Type:Document
Health Topic:Clinical Guidelines
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