The Sick Child Initiative.

Worldwide, 12 million children under age 5 years die each year. 70% of these deaths are due to diarrhea, pneumonia, measles, malaria, or malnutrition, often to a combination of these conditions. A single diagnosis for a sick child is therefore often inappropriate since the signs and symptoms of several major childhood diseases overlap substantially and often more than one disease may be present. Responding to only the most apparent problem may lead to an associated, and potentially life-threatening, condition being overlooked. Combined therapy may be needed to effectively treat the presenting conditions. Some World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF programs provide for the integrated management of the sick child. Program efforts have been coordinated by the WHO Division of Diarrheal and Acute Respiratory Disease Control. Many other agencies, institutions, and individuals are contributing to this initiative. It is expected that the integrated management of the sick child will result in the more accurate identification of illnesses in outpatient settings, ensure more appropriate and, where possible, combined treatment of all the major illnesses, and speed the referral of severely ill children. The approach also emphasizes the importance of preventive interventions such as immunization, vitamin A supplementation when necessary, and improved infant feeding, including exclusive breast feeding.