Assessment of sick child

To assess a sick child, one have to check on various things, emergency signs and priority signs

Emergency signs

For emergency signs, following have to be checked since they can cause death at any time, immediate action should be taken in case emergency signs are seen.

·        Obstructed breathing

·        Severe respiratory distress

·        Central cyanosis

·        Signs of shock(weak pulse, slow capillary refill, cold extremities)

·        Coma

·        Convulsion

·        Signs of severe dehydration(sunken eyes, skin pinch return slowly)

If there are no emergency signs, assess for priority signs, the priority signs are

·        Trauma(injury)

·        Temperature(fever)

·        Tiny baby

·        Pallor

·        Pain

·        Poisoning

·        Restless

·        Respiratory distress

·        Referral