Lesson 1Red flags and indications for urgent referral or ED evaluation: hypoxia, dehydration, severe respiratory distress, apneaSpots danger signs needing quick referral or emergency checks, like low oxygen, severe distress, breathing pauses, dryness, and odd alertness, and how to steady and transfer safely.
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 progress, and home care simply, tackling caregiver worry, health knowledge, and culture, with 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 kids, focusing on start, fever type, breathing trouble signs, contacts, shot status, and risks to tell mild from serious.
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 reassessmentShows how to plan check-ins for breathing issues, expected recovery times, booking reviews, strong return warnings, and records for smooth 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 help outpatient care, like chest films, 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 guidelinesTeaches spotting likely bacterial lung infection via history, exam, risks, and picking first-choice outpatient antibiotics, doses, lengths matching local bugs and wise use rules.
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 cold, small airway illness, lung infection, barky cough, and whooping cough in kids, by age, symptoms, exam, and serious lower airway warnings.
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 outpatient treatments for breathing issues, like fever reducers, nose rinses, fluids, and airway openers, with when to use, doses, and skipping unhelpful or risky ones.
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 focused breathing exam for kids, age-based vitals, breathing effort scores, listening skills, and spotting signs of nearing failure or need to step up care.
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
