Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...

Reference Manual
Table 17: Summary of Treatment of Minor Infections
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION TREATMENT
Conjunctivitis Pus discharge from
the eyes with or
without redness
Treat as gonococcal infection in endemic
areas: (ceftrioxone 50 mg/kgIM) plus
eye toilet and tetracycline drops or
Minor umbilical
infection
Thrush
Pus discharge from
umbilicus or base of
cord
Dirty white patches
on the tongue, inner
cheeks, and palate
Pustules or peeling
of skin
ointment. Treat parents.
Clean the cord base/depth of the umbilicus
well with alcohol and apply antiseptic (such
as chlorhexidine, Betadine, triple dye, or
gentian violet).
Local application of nystatin or gentian
violet: a drop or two in the mouth 4 times a
day.
Pustules, boils,
Clean the skin with an antiseptic solution. If
impetigo
not available, use soap and water. If less
than 10 pustules, apply gentian violet paint
twice a day. If more than 10, give oral
antibiotics amoxicillin or erythromycin. If no
improvement in 2 days change to oral
cloxacillin for 7-10 days.
Source: WHO. 2003. Managing Newborn Problems: A Guide for Doctors, Nurses and Midwives.
PREVENTING INFECTIONS
During the prenatal period:
• Give tetanus immunization.
• Follow guidelines for preventing and treating sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS,
and malaria.
During delivery:
• Follow clean delivery practices; at the facility, as many of the items as possible coming
in contact with the baby and for the delivery should be sterile.
• Provide basic care of the newborn, including temperature maintenance, early and
exclusive breastfeeding, eye care, cord and skin care, general hygiene, including hand
washing.
During the postnatal period give preventive care for the mother and the newborn, including
general hygiene, hand washing, and the other components noted above.
Follow-up care:
• Ask the mother to bring back the baby after two days for follow-up.
• Counsel the mother on identification of danger signs and to return immediately should
even one danger sign be present.
• Counsel the mother on basic preventive essential newborn care, including
breastfeeding, cord care, and temperature maintenance.
• Make an appointment for when the next immunizations are due.
Integrated maternal and newborn care
Basic skills course
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