Lesson 1Red flags and indications for urgent referral or ED evaluation: hypoxia, dehydration, severe respiratory distress, apneaThis identifies warning signs needing quick referral or emergency check, like low oxygen, severe breathing trouble, pauses in breathing, fluid loss, and changed alertness, and how to stabilise and arrange safe moves.
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 stepsThis covers ways to explain diagnoses, expected progress, and home care simply, while handling caregiver worry, health understanding, and culture, with clear steps for worsening and safety advice.
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 counselling points in the chartLesson 3Focused history for febrile cough in preschoolers: onset, fever pattern, respiratory distress signs, exposures, immunisation statusThis gives a structured way to take history for feverish cough in young kids, focusing on start, fever type, breathing trouble signs, contacts, vaccination 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 contactsImmunisation status and risk modifiersPast medical history and prior episodesLesson 4Follow-up planning: return precautions, timeline for expected improvement, criteria for reassessmentThis explains planning check-ups for acute breathing illness, including expected recovery times, booking reviews, repeating warnings, and recording plans for ongoing care and caregiver confidence.
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 culturesThis outlines when tests help in clinic settings, including when to use 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 guidelinesThis focuses on spotting likely bacterial lung infection using history, exam, and risks, and picking first-choice clinic antibiotics, doses, and lengths matching local patterns 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 featuresThis reviews main signs separating viral cold, small airway illness, lung infection, barking cough condition, and whooping cough in kids, focusing on age, symptoms, exam, and warnings for serious lower breathing issues.
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 indicationsThis describes proven clinic treatments for common breathing problems, including fever reducers, nose saline, fluids, and breathing openers, stressing when to use, doses, and avoiding unhelpful or risky 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 assessmentThis details a focused breathing exam in kids, including age-based vital signs, breathing effort scores, listening techniques, and spotting signs of nearing breathing failure or need for quick help.
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
