Indian pediatrics
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WHO guidelines for primary care of children with tachypnea indicate that all should receive antibiotics for presumed pneumonia. These guidelines have led to excessive antibiotic use. ⋯ This study indicates that by adding the simple procedures of a history of previous respiratory distress, recording of fever and chest indrawing, and observing the response to bronchodilators, pneumonia can be reliably identified in children presenting with tachypnea and cough. It is probable that this approach to management of children with cough and tachypnea could reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics.
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The National Population Policy (2000) aims at complete protection of all children against vaccine preventable diseases by 2010. Urban poor, many residing in slums, comprise about one fourth of India's 285 million urban population. 60% of the children aged 12-23 months in urban India are fully immunized; coverage among urban poor children is a dismal 43%. The inter state variations of immunization coverage in urban areas, reveals a service coverage gap which calls for a rethink on resource allocation and strengthening processes to improve immunization coverage amongst urban poor. ⋯ This paper attempts to understand the current scenario and challenges in improving immunization coverage in urban slums; immunization being one of the most successful public health interventions of the past century. It also discusses possible mechanisms for effectively reaching the often left out urban poor. Coordinated activities by the multitude of providers, accurate information based outreach, effective monitoring and community enablement to demand quality services are critical for improving utilization of immunization services by a heterogeneous urban poor population.