Integrated Case Management as the Core IMCI Intervention

The core IMCI intervention is integrated case management of the most important causes of childhood death and illness, such as acute respiratory infections,diarrhea, measles, malaria, malnutrition, neonatal infections and a few others. The strategy of IMCI includes a range of other preventive and curative interventions, which aim to improve practice both in health facilities and at home.

The WHO/UNICEF case management guidelines are a generic version. Although they are widely applicable, they need to be adapted in a specific country to:

• cover the most serious childhood illnesses seen at first level-health facilities, that first level-health workers must be able to treat;
• be consistent with national treatment guidelines and other policies; 
• be appropriate for the local conditions that affect the care of children in the health facility and at home.