Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 6

Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.

SAQ 6.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 6.1 and 6.2)

If a child is brought to the health post with a fever, what would you need to do immediately and why?

Answer

You need to decide the cause of the fever: whether it is due to malaria, meningitis, measles, or another cause. This is because the treatment you give in each case will be different and may involve urgent referral.

Read Case Study 6.2 and then answer the questions below.

Case Study 6.2 for SAQ 6.2

Abdi is three years old. He weighs 9.4 kg. He feels hot and has also had a cough for three days. Abdi is able to drink, has not vomited, has not had convulsions, and has not been lethargic or unconscious during the visit to the health post. His breathing rate is 51 a minute. The health worker did not see chest in-drawing or hear stridor when he is calm. Abdi does not have diarrhoea.

The mother says Abdi has felt hot for five days. The risk of malaria is high.

Abdi has not had measles within the last three months. He does not have a stiff neck; there is no runny nose, and no generalised rash.

SAQ 6.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 6.2 and 6.3)

  • a.What are the child’s signs?
  • b.How would you classify his illness?

Answer

  • a.You should have noted that the signs present in Abdi’s case are: fever, cough and fast breathing.
  • b.Therefore you should have classified his illness as pneumonia because he has cough and fast breathing. And malaria because he has fever and he is living in a high risk malaria area.

Read Case Study 6.3 and answer the questions below.

Case Study 6.3 for SAQ 6.3

Lemlen is three years old. She weighs 10 kg. Her temperature is 38°C. She has been coughing for two days, has a generalised rash and has felt hot for three days. She is able to drink, has not been vomiting and does not have convulsions. She is not lethargic. The health worker counts 42 breaths per minute. There is no chest in-drawing or stridor when she is calm. She has no diarrhoea. She does not have a stiff neck or runny nose, or mouth ulcers or pus draining from the eye. There is no clouding of the cornea.

SAQ 6.3 (tests Learning Outcomes 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4)

  • a.How would you classify Lemlen’s illness?
  • b.How would you treat her illness?

Answer

  • a.You should have classified Lemlem’s illness as pneumonia because she has a cough and fast breathing; and measles because she has fever, generalised rash and red eyes.
  • b.The treatment for Lemlen is:
    • Cotrimoxazole: one adult tablet or three paediatric tablets or 7.5 ml syrup twice daily for five days
    • Vitamin A: give 200,000 IU on Day 1, repeat same dose on Day 2 and Day 15
    • Paracetamol: one tablet of 500 mg every six hours for reducing the fever.

Summary of Study Session 6