A child assessed for anaemia will have one of the following three classifications:
- Severe anaemia: when there is severe palmar pallor.
- Anaemia: when there is some palmar pallor.
- No anaemia: when there is no palmar pallor.
Now you have seen that when a sick child is checked for anaemia, there will be at least two classifications: one from the five possible classifications of acute malnutrition, and another one from the three possible classifications of anaemia.
Assessment and classification of anemia in children
| Signs |
Classify |
Treatment |
Severe Palmar pallor
|
SEVERE ANEMIA |
Refer urgently to the hospital.
|
|
Some Palmar pallor
|
ANEMIA |
Refer to a health centre or hospital.
|
No palmar pallor
|
NO ANEMIA |
If the child is less than 2 years assess child's feeding and counsel the mother on feeding according to the FOOD box on the COUNSEL THE MOTHER chart.If feeding problem, follow-up in 5 days.Iif no feeding problem, praises the mother. |