Fever and Ear Problems In Children (IMNCI Framework)

These flashcards cover the definition, infectious and non-infectious causes, assessment, and IMNCI classifications for fever and ear infections in children, as presented by Group 4.

Fever (Pyrexia)

An elevation of the body's core temperature above the normal variation due to a resetting of the hypothalamic thermoregulatory set point.

Harrison’s Principle Fever Criteria

A core temperature generally considered as a rectal temperature of $>38.0$ or an axillary or oral temperature of $>37.5$.

Bacterial Infectious Causes (Reproductive Health)

Includes puerperal sepsis/infection (e.g., endometritis), mastitis, UTI, and surgical site infections like Caesarean section wound or episiotomy site infection.

Atelectasis

A collapsed lung segment that serves as a non-infectious causes of fever in the immediate post-operative period.

IMNCI Danger Signs: Airway & Breathing

Stridor in a calm child, severe chest indrawing, or fast breathing (tachypnea).

IMNCI Danger Signs: Circulation/Consciousness

Lethargy or unconsciousness, inability to drink or breastfeed, convulsions (seizures), vomiting everything, and pale/mottled/blue skin/lips/tongue.

IMNCI Danger Signs: Temperature

A very high temperature (e.g., $>40^{\circ} \text{C}$) or the child feeling unusually cold.

Palmar Pallor

A physical sign assessed during examination to check for anemia in a child with fever.

Very Severe Febrile Disease (Pink)

An IMNCI classification indicated by any general danger sign, stiff neck, or signs of very severe illness requiring urgent treatment and referral.

Malaria Unlikely/Possible Measles (Yellow)

An IMNCI classification for a fever lasting $7$ or more days, or a measles classification (generalized rash + cough/runny nose/red eyes).

No Malaria (Green)

An IMNCI classification for cases with no general danger signs, no signs of severe illness, and no other specific classifications, requiring home care advice.

Vitamin A (Measles Treatment)

A treatment given immediately to children with severe complicated measles to prevent blindness and reduce the severity of the disease.

Gentian Violet ($0.5\%$)

A substance applied to severe mouth ulcers once daily for $5$ days as part of mouth complication management in measles.

Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

An infection of the middle ear and the most common ear infection in children.

AOM Bacterial Pathogens

The most common bacteria include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Eustachian Tube (Pediatric Anatomy)

In children aged $6$ months to $2$ years, these tubes are shorter, narrower, and more horizontal, making them more susceptible to obstruction and infection.

Otalgia

Ear pain caused by pressure on the tympanic membrane; in non-verbal children, it presents as tugging/rubbing the ear and irritability.

Otorrhea

Pus draining from the ear, which may indicate a tympanic membrane perforation (burst eardrum) due to pressure buildup.

Mastoiditis (Pink)

An IMNCI ear classification characterized by tender swelling behind the ear (over the mastoid process), requiring urgent referral.

Acute Ear Infection (Yellow)

An IMNCI classification where pus is draining from the ear for LESS than $14$ days OR there is ear pain.

Chronic Ear Infection (Yellow)

An IMNCI classification where pus has been draining from the ear for $14$ days or MORE.

Wicking

A method of drying the ear advised for mothers of children with acute or chronic ear infections.