Management of acute respiratory infections[ARI] through primary health care services

ABSTRACT

Acute Respiratory Infection is one of the three major killers in children. While six million children die of ARI worldwide, in Pakistan 34% of hospital admissions are attributed to ARL This article overviews the role of Primary Health Care in the Management of ARI. It takes into account the level of care required to effectively manage this disease and the corresponding manpower required to do so. It highlights the guidelines and steps for management and relates them to various personnel who can be key decision makers to manage this problem. It pin-points various antimicrobial agents appropriate for different microbes along with the supportive therapy needed to control the disease. It also describes the scheme for the management of patients with different types of cough associated with fever, wheeze and croup