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Childhood DiseasesIn developing countries, about half of all childhood deaths -- 4.9 million -- are caused by no more than four conditions: pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, malaria and measles. Every day, almost 13 500 children die from them. Malnutrition is associated with many of these deaths and is the underlying cause of half of all child deaths in developing countries.
Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)
This low-cost strategy has been developed to improve child health through ensuring the prompt recognition and treatment of the five most common causes of childhood deaths: pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, measles, and malnutrition. IMCI treatment guidelines have been developed to help health workers recognize the signs of illness and take prompt action -- even if the child is suffering from more than one condition at the same time. Working through health services and communities, IMCI builds on the experience of best practice and provides a holistic approach to the major childhood diseases.
The IMCI strategy involves:
- prompt recognition of all co-existing conditions
- rapid and effective treatment through standard case management
- prevention of illness through improved immunization and improved nutrition (including breastfeeding)
- promotion of family practices to protect child health, including improved
feeding practices, use of insecticide-treated bednets, and appropriate
care seeking for illness.
Prevention & Treatment
WHO and UNICEF have drawn up a list of essential drugs to treat the most common diseases of childhood. The average cost for a full course of treatment with one of these drugs is about US$ 0.15. They include: oral antibiotics, an antimalarial drug, oral rehydration salts, vitamin A, treatment for intestinal worms, and treatments for eye and skin infections and mouth ulcers. In addition, immunization with measles vaccine --costing US$ 0.26 for both the vaccine and injection equipment-- could prevent most of the almost one million deaths from measles every year.
Many more lives could be saved through ensuring that mothers can recognize the onset of childhood diseases and that they have access to rapid treatment --ideally in the home. Meanwhile improved training of health workers would help ensure rapid diagnosis of life-threatening diseases-- especially where children are suffering from more than one condition.