1.3.3
Severe Pneumonia
Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines, 6th Edition, 2023. Chapter 1, Management of Emergencies.
Clinical Description
Oxygen (2L/min to start)
Antibiotics
In children
- Benzyl penicillin 50,000 IU/kg IV/IM q6h for 5 to 7 days
- Gentamicin 7.5 mg/kg IM/IV q24h for 5 to 7 days
- if improving switch to Amoxicillin 40mg/kg PO q12h x 5 days
- If not improving switch to Ceftriaxone 80mg/kg IV q24h x 5-7 days
In adult
- Ceftriaxone 2g IV q24h for 5 -7 days
If trauma:
- Tension pneumothorax
- High flow oxygen
- Needle thoracocentesis
- Chest-drain insertion
- Analgesia
- Open pneumothorax
- High flow oxygen
- Cover the wound with a 3-sided dressing
- Chest-drain insertion
- Flail chest
- High flow oxygen
- Analgesia
- Consider intubation and ventilation
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