Basic Health Care

Common Illness at household level

Cough or cold: Any cough needs immediate referral.

Minor cuts: Cuts are mainly caused by sharp objects;

•  Cuts can lead to bleeding

• If not properly handled can become infected. For first aid, clean the cut with clean running water, wrap with a clean piece of cloth and refer the affected to a hospital.

Nose bleeding:

Can be as a result of physical trauma, common cold or a bleeding problem.

For first aid:

• Tell client to sit, tilt face downwards, and apply pressure on soft part of the nose for a few minutes.

• Encourage client to breath by mouth.

• Ensure pressure on client’s nose does not obstruct breathing.

• Do not handle blood if you are unable to protect yourself with gloves.

• Refer the client

Fainting:

Occurs due to reduced blood flow to the brain

For first aid:

• Ensure client is lying down and breathing, elevate legs to help increase blood flow to the brain

• Refer immediately

Burns: Burns are caused by fire, hot objects or fluids. Skin can become infected or might be unable to maintain normal body temperature.

For first aid:

• Pour cold water on the burn for at least 10 minutes.

• Give painkiller and refer to a health facility

Danger signs in under fives

High Fever /hotness of the body;

• It occurs when the body temperature is more than 37.5 degrees Celsius in a newborn

• Advise the mother to remove excessive clothing to help reduce body temperature

• Refer immediately

Seizures/convulsions;

• Occurs when the brain malfunctions, resulting in a change in movement, attention, or level of awareness.

• It is characterized by jerking or muscles spasms.

• Refer the patient to health facility immediately

Chest wall in-drawing;

Occurs when;

• The lower chest wall goes in when the infant breathes in

• The infant’s effort to breathe in, is much greater than normal

NOTE: In normal breathing, the whole chest wall (upper and lower) and the abdomen move out when the infant breathes in. The child should be referred to health facility if they have chest wall in-drawing

Not easily aroused/less active;

• Child is unusually sleepy, tends to sleep for longer time than normal and is not easily woken up

• Refer immediately to the health facility

Difficulty in breathing:

Signs;

• Blue or gray coloring on the skin of the face or chest.

• A high-pitched whistling sound made when a child breaths out

• The skin pulls in and out between each rib with each breath.

• When a child is congested, their nostrils flare in and out with each breath

• Refer the child to the health facility

Reduced body temperature;

• Occurs when hands and feet are cold

• Body temperature is below 35.5 Celsius

• Refer the child to the health facility

Diarrhea;

Passing watery loose stool more than 3 times within 24 hour Sunken eyes and sunken fontanel

• This is result of prolonged diarrhea more than three times a day Related danger signs;

• Sunken eyes- the eyes tend to intrude inwards

• Inelastic skin- skin that once pinched it goes back slowly.

• Inability to drink orally- not able to take fluids orally.

• Lethargy/Fatigue- child is tired and weak

• Drinking eagerly- child drinks thirstily when offered water

Note: Refer the child to health facility to rehydrate the child with ORS

Management of Diarrhea at the household level

• Give ORS solution if available

How to prepare ORS solution

• Wash your hands with soap and water.

• Pour the entire contents of a packet of ORS into a clean container (a mixing bowl or jar) for mixing the ORS. The container should be large enough to hold at least 500ml.

• Measure 500ml of safe water (or correct amount for packet used). Use the cleanest drinking water available

• Pour the water into the container. Mix well until the salts completely dissolves

If ORS is not available, give the following:

• Give plenty of available fluids like uji, fresh fruit juices, home made soup etc.

• Encourage the child to continue breastfeeding as child rehydrate

• Refer to the health facility

Danger signs in pregnancy and delivery

Reduced or no Fetal Movement;

• Fetal movements begin to occur as basic routine by18- 20 weeks and should be monitored by at least twice daily kick counts

• Refer immediately if there is reduced fetal movement or no fetal movement 

Abdominal Pains;

• Persistent abdominal pain could indicate a miscarriage, or other complications

• Should be referred immediately to a health facility

Severe or persistent Vomiting;

• Severe vomiting that lasts for more than a day puts a pregnant woman at risk of dehydration

• Should be referred to health facility Leaking of baby fluid before due time for delivery

• A persistent leak or sudden gush of fluid indicates that the woman is losing amniotic fluid

• Refer immediately to health facility

Swelling of legs, arms or face;

• Most women notice a little swelling in their legs and ankles during pregnancy, but severe swelling, especially in the face/legs or fingers, is cause for alarm

• Refer immediately to health facility

Anemia ;

• If a woman is feeling tired, weak, and dizzy, or if the insides of her eyelids or her palms are especially pale, she might be having anaemia

• Refer to a health facility

Convulsions/fits;

• Is a medical condition where body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body

• Refer immediately to health facility

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy or profuse/persistent bleeding after delivery;

• Any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy or profuse / persistent bleeding after delivery must be referred to health facility

Severe Headache

• This is a persistent headache not relieved by any pain killers

• It may show signs of increased blood pressure thus needs immediate referral to health facility

Prolonged labour

• can be longer in a woman having her first baby

• It is recommended that all women should deliver at health facility

• Refer all women in labour to health facility