Lesson 1Decision rules for outpatient management vs admission: WHO and AAP guidance on pneumonia severity and admission criteriaExplores decision rules for outpatient versus inpatient care using WHO and AAP criteria, integrating oxygen saturation, feeding ability, work of breathing, and social factors to support safe disposition planning for infants.
WHO pneumonia severity categoriesAAP criteria for hospital admissionRole of oxygen saturation and work of breathingFeeding ability and home support factorsPlanning safe follow-up and reviewLesson 2Triage and red flags requiring urgent referral: severe respiratory distress, hypoxia, poor oral intake, recurrent apnoeas, cyanosisDefines triage priorities and red flags such as severe distress, hypoxia, poor feeding, recurrent apnoea, and cyanosis, guiding urgent referral, stabilisation steps, and safe transfer of infants with suspected life-threatening illness.
Recognising severe respiratory distressIdentifying hypoxia and cyanosisRecurrent apnoea and altered consciousnessPoor oral intake and dehydration riskStabilisation before transfer or referralLesson 3Differential diagnoses for fever with cough and fast breathing: bronchiolitis, community-acquired pneumonia, pertussis, viral URTIReviews key differential diagnoses for infants with fever, cough, and fast breathing, including bronchiolitis, pneumonia, pertussis, and viral URTI, highlighting distinguishing clinical features and implications for testing and treatment.
Clinical features of bronchiolitisCommunity-acquired pneumonia patternsRecognition of pertussis in infantsFeatures of viral URTI and overlapRed flags suggesting alternative diagnosesLesson 4First-line investigations: chest radiograph indications, nasopharyngeal viral testing, full blood count and CRP when indicatedOutlines when to order chest radiographs, viral PCR or antigen tests, and basic blood work in infants with acute respiratory symptoms, focusing on avoiding unnecessary tests while identifying serious bacterial or atypical disease.
Chest radiograph indications and limitationsNasopharyngeal viral PCR and rapid testsRole of full blood count and CRPInterpreting mixed viral and bacterial resultsLesson 5Pathophysiology and common causes of cough, fever, and tachypnoea in infantsExplains airway and lung physiology in early infancy and how viral, bacterial, and environmental factors cause cough, fever, and tachypnoea, linking common diagnoses such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and viral URTI to underlying mechanisms.
Infant airway anatomy and complianceMechanisms of cough and mucus productionCauses of fever in respiratory infectionsAetiology of tachypnoea in young infantsLesson 6Clinical signs of respiratory distress: nasal flaring, chest indrawing, grunting, tachypnoea age-specific cutoffsDescribes clinical signs of respiratory distress in infants, including nasal flaring, chest indrawing, grunting, and age-specific tachypnoea cutoffs, and explains how to grade severity and monitor changes over time at the bedside.
Nasal flaring and head bobbingChest indrawing and retraction patternsGrunting and use of accessory musclesAge-specific tachypnoea thresholdsScoring systems for distress severityLesson 7Treatment principles: oxygen therapy thresholds, bronchiolitis supportive care, indications for oral vs IV antibiotics, bronchodilator and corticosteroid guidanceSummarises treatment strategies including oxygen thresholds, bronchiolitis supportive care, and when to use antibiotics, bronchodilators, or corticosteroids, emphasising evidence-based practice and avoidance of unnecessary medications.
Oxygen therapy thresholds and deliverySupportive care in bronchiolitisOral versus IV antibiotic indicationsBronchodilator and corticosteroid useMonitoring response and treatment failureLesson 8Initial bedside tests: pulse oximetry interpretation, respiratory rate measurement, capillary refill, point-of-care glucoseCovers bedside assessment tools including pulse oximetry, respiratory rate measurement, capillary refill, and point-of-care glucose, with practical tips to obtain accurate readings and interpret results in young infants.
Correct pulse oximetry techniqueMeasuring respiratory rate accuratelyAssessing capillary refill and perfusionPoint-of-care glucose indicationsIntegrating bedside findings into triageLesson 9Key history questions: duration and onset of symptoms, feeding and fluid intake, immunisation, household contacts, exposure to smokeDetails focused history taking in infants with respiratory symptoms, including onset and duration, feeding and fluid intake, immunisation status, exposure to smoke, and sick contacts, to guide risk stratification and management decisions.
Symptom onset, duration, and progressionFeeding, fluid intake, and output historyImmunisation status and missed vaccinesHousehold contacts and sick exposuresEnvironmental smoke and pollutant exposureLesson 10Caregiver counselling: home care, when to return, home hydration and fever management, immunisation reinforcementProvides guidance on counselling caregivers about home care, hydration, fever control, medication use, and immunisation, and on giving clear instructions about danger signs and when to seek urgent reassessment.
Explaining diagnosis and expected courseHome hydration and feeding strategiesSafe fever management and medicationsReturn precautions and danger signsReinforcing routine and catch-up vaccinesLesson 11Guideline references: WHO Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) pneumonia recommendations, AAP bronchiolitis guidance, national paediatric respiratory protocolsSummarises key recommendations from WHO IMCI, AAP bronchiolitis guidance, and national paediatric respiratory protocols, emphasising harmonisation of local practice with evidence-based international standards for infant care.
WHO IMCI pneumonia classificationsAAP bronchiolitis management guidanceNational paediatric pneumonia protocolsAdapting guidelines to local resourcesLesson 12Fluid and feeding management for infants with reduced intakeCovers assessment of hydration and feeding in sick infants, calculation of fluid needs, safe use of oral, nasogastric, and IV fluids, and monitoring to prevent dehydration, overhydration, and feeding-related respiratory compromise.
Assessing hydration and urine outputOral and nasogastric feeding strategiesIndications for IV fluids and ratesMonitoring for fluid overload and hyponatraemia
