MANAGEMENT OF THE SICK YOUNG INFANT AGE 1 WEEK UP TO 2 MONTHS

Name: Mercy Age: 5 weeks old Weight: 4 kg Temperature: 37 °C

ASK: What are the infant's problems? Rashes, skin pustules __ ___ Initial 
visit? ______ Follow-up Visit? _____

ASSESS (Circle all signs present) CLASSIFY TREAT

CHECK FOR POSSIBLE BACTERIAL INFECTION 
Give appropriate antibiotic: 2.5
mL syrup amoxicillin twice a day for 5
• Has the infant had convulsions?
55 • Count the breaths in one minute.______ breaths per minute. days
Repeat if elevated ______ Fast breathing? 
Teach mother tinfections at
•
•
Look for severe chest indrawing.
Look for nasal flaring.
Local home with the ff:o treat local

• Look and listen for grunting. - Wash hands before and

after treating Mercy
• Look and feel for bulging fontanelle. Bacterial - Wash Mercy 2x a day and
• Look for pus draining from the ear.
gently wash the pustules
• Look at umbilicus. Is it red or draining pus? Does the redness extend to the skin? with soap and water then dry
• Fever (temperature 37.5°C or feels hot) or low body temperature (below 35.5°C or feels cool). Infection the area. Apply 0.5%
• Look for skin pustules. Are there many or severe pustules? gentian violet after.
• See if young infant is lethargic or unconscious.  Advise the mother to give
• Look at young infant's movements. Less than normal? home care for the young infant
for the pustules on her
buttocks
 Follow-up in 2 days.

DOES THE YOUNG INFANT HAVE DIARRHOEA?
Yes _____ No ______ 
• For how long? _____ Days • Look at the young infant's general condition. Is the infant:  Give fluid and food to treat
• Is there blood in the stools? diarrhoea at home.
Lethargic or unconscious? Restless No  Advise mother when to return
or irritable? immediately i.e. when infant
Dehydration shows signs of feeding poorly,
becomes sicker, or blood in
• Look for sunken eyes. stool
• Pinch the skin of the abdomen. Does it go back:  Follow up in 5 days if not
improving
Very slowly (longer than 2 seconds)?
Slowly?
THEN CHECK FOR FEEDING PROBLEM OR LOW
WEIGHT
 Advise mother to give home
No Feeding care for the young infant by

 No ___
•
•
Is there any difficulty feeding? Yes ___
Is the infant breastfed? Yes  ___ No ___
• Determine weight for age. Low ___ Not Low ___ Problem doing the ff:
- Breastfeed Mercy at least 8x in
• If Yes, how many times in 24 hours?9___________
up to 10 times 24 hours to keep her warm.
• Does the infant usually receive any other foods or - Cover head and feet, dress in
drinks? Yes ___ No  ___ If Yes, how often? extra clothing if weather is cold.
• What do you use to feed the child?  Praise the mother for feeding
the infant well.
If the infant has any difficulty feeding, is feeding less thann 8 times in 24 hours, is taking any other food or drinks, or is low weight for age AND has no
indications to refer urgently to hospital:

ASSESS BREASTFEEDING:

• Has the infant breastfed in the previous hour? • If infant has not fed in the previous hour, ask the mother to put her infant to the breast. Observe
the breastfeed for 4 minutes.
• Is the infant able to attach? To check attachment, look for:
- Chin touching breast Yes ___ No ___

- Mouth wide open Yes ___ No ___

- Lower lip turned outward Yes ___ No ___

- More areola above than below the mouth Yes ___ No ___

no attachment at all not well attached good attachment

• Is the infant suckling effectively (that is, slow deep sucks, sometimes pausing)?
not suckling at all not suckling suckling effectively
effectively

• Look for ulcers or white patches in the mouth (thrush).

CHECK THE YOUNG INFANT'S IMMUNIZATION Circle immunizations needed today. Return for next
STATUS immunization on:

BCG
BCG DPT1 DPT 2
DPT1 DPT2 DPT 1, OPV-0,
OPV
OPV0 0 OPV 1 OPV 1 OPV
OPV22
OPV-1 (July 6,
Return for follow-up in: July 2, 2020
2020)(Date)
Give any immunizations needed
today: _____________

ASSESS OTHER PROBLEMS: