Lesson 1Red flags and indications for urgent referral or ED evaluation: hypoxia, dehydration, severe respiratory distress, apneaPoints out clinical warnings needing quick referral or emergency checks, like low oxygen, severe tiredness, stopping breath, fluid loss, and changed mind state, and how to steady and move safely when required.
Recognizing hypoxia and cyanosis promptlySevere work of breathing and exhaustionApnea, poor tone, and color change eventsSigns of significant dehydration or shockHigh-risk groups needing lower thresholdsCoordinating safe transport and handoffLesson 2Communication with caregivers: explaining likely diagnosis, home care instructions, and safe escalation stepsCovers ways to explain diagnoses, expected illness path, and home care in simple words, while handling caregiver worry, health knowledge, and cultural aspects, and giving clear steps for worsening and safety nets.
Assessing caregiver understanding and concernsExplaining likely diagnosis in simple languageTeaching home care: fever, fluids, nasal careSetting clear, specific return precautionsShared decision-making and safety-nettingDocumenting key counseling points in the chartLesson 3Focused history for febrile cough in preschoolers: onset, fever pattern, respiratory distress signs, exposures, immunisation statusGives a planned way to take history for feverish cough in young children, stressing start, fever type, breathing trouble signs, contacts, vaccine status, and risks to tell mild from serious illness.
Characterizing cough onset and durationFever pattern, height, and response to medsRespiratory distress symptoms at homeExposure history and sick contactsImmunization status and risk modifiersPast medical history and prior episodesLesson 4Follow-up planning: return precautions, timeline for expected improvement, criteria for reassessmentExplains planning check-ins for acute breathing illness, with expected times for better symptoms, booking rechecks, stressing return warnings, and recording plans for ongoing care and caregiver trust.
Expected recovery timelines by diagnosisWhen to schedule in-person follow-upPhone and telehealth check-in strategiesClear written return and ED precautionsDocumenting plans and caregiver agreementAddressing barriers to reliable follow-upLesson 5Reasoned use of diagnostics: when to order chest x-ray, rapid viral testing (RSV/flu), pulse oximetry, CBC, CRP, blood culturesOutlines when tests affect clinic care, including needs and limits of chest x-ray, virus tests, oxygen checks, and basic blood work, while skipping low-value tests that raise costs or worry.
When chest x-ray meaningfully guides careRole of rapid RSV and influenza testingUsing pulse oximetry for triage decisionsWhen CBC or CRP may add valueRare indications for blood culturesCommunicating test limits to familiesLesson 6Antibiotic stewardship: criteria for suspecting bacterial pneumonia and first-line antibiotic choices by local guidelinesFocuses on spotting likely bacterial lung infection using history, exam, and risks, and picking first clinic antibiotics, amounts, and lengths that fit local resistance and wise use rules in Eritrea.
Clinical predictors of bacterial pneumoniaDistinguishing viral from bacterial patternsFirst-line oral antibiotics and dosingPenicillin allergy options and limitationsDuration of therapy and follow-up needsAvoiding unnecessary broad-spectrum agentsLesson 7Differential diagnoses: viral upper respiratory infection, bronchiolitis, community-acquired pneumonia, croup, pertussis—key distinguishing featuresReviews main signs separating viral upper airway infection, small airway illness, lung infection, barking cough, and whooping cough in kids, focusing on age, symptom types, exam results, and warnings for worse lower airway problems.
Typical features of viral upper respiratory infectionClinical hallmarks of infant bronchiolitisCommunity-acquired pneumonia: signs by ageCroup: barking cough and stridor patternsPertussis stages and whooping cough cluesUsing patterns to separate overlapping syndromesLesson 8Initial outpatient management strategies: supportive care, antipyretics, hydration, inhaled bronchodilators—evidence-based indicationsDescribes proven clinic treatments for common breathing issues, including fever reducers, nose saline, fluid plans, and airway openers, stressing when to use, amounts, and avoiding unhelpful or harmful options.
Evidence-based fever and pain controlHydration strategies and oral rehydrationNasal saline, suction, and humidified airWhen to use inhaled bronchodilatorsAvoiding cough suppressants and decongestantsHome monitoring and positioning adviceLesson 9Targeted physical exam for respiratory illness: vital signs, respiratory rate by age, auscultation, work of breathing assessmentDetails a focused breathing exam in children, with age-based vital signs, breathing rate checks, listening methods, and spotting signs of nearing breathing failure or need for quick action.
Age-based normal ranges for vital signsAssessing respiratory rate and rhythmWork of breathing: retractions and gruntingAuscultation: wheeze, crackles, stridorSigns of fatigue and impending failureIntegrating exam findings into triage level
