Question
What is the diagnosis for a 3-month-old baby who has a fever and a respiratory rate of 60/min, but shows no signs of stridor, chest indrawing, or convulsions?
| A. |
Pneumonia
|
| B. |
Severe pneumonia
|
| C. |
Very severe pneumonia
|
| D. |
No Pneumonia
|
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer » A
Explanation
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|
- The child is 3 months old, which falls in the 2 months to 12 months age group.
- Fast breathing in infants aged 2–12 monthsis defined as:
- Respiratory rate ≥50/minute
- This infant has:
- Respiratory rate = 60/minute (fast breathing)
- No chest indrawing
- No stridor
- No danger signs (e.g., convulsions, lethargy, inability to feed)
- Therefore, according to IMNCI/IMCI guidelines, the diagnosis is Pneumonia.
Why Other Options are Incorrect
B. Severe pneumonia
- Severe pneumonia requires:
- Chest indrawing, or
- General danger signs (depending on the guideline version).
- Neither is present in this patient.
C. Very severe pneumonia
- Very severe pneumonia is characterized by danger signs such as:
- Convulsions
- Lethargy or unconsciousness
- Inability to drink/feed
- Persistent vomiting
- Central cyanosis
- Severe respiratory distress
- None of these features are present.
D. No pneumonia
- Incorrect because the infant has fast breathing (60/minute), which meets the IMNCI criterion for pneumonia.
