At the end of the consultation, during the hospital stay, and at discharge, it is important that the health care and health promotion teams advise the parents or patient carers.
1) Advise them to:
- Make the child drink and give smaller, more frequent meals or breastfeed more frequently
- Keep the child’s eyes clean and clear the nose frequently
2) Explain how to give the medications (including how to prepare ORS, if applicable) and/or nutritional supplements. For vitamin A, explain that they must cut the end of the capsule and squeeze the drops directly into the child’s mouth – the capsule must not be swallowed.
Make sure that they understand the instructions. Provide the drugs, supplies (cotton) and supplements needed to do the rest of the treatment at home.
3) Ask them to bring the child back if their condition worsens, e.g. if the child cannot drink or nurse, or is vomiting, in case of impaired consciousness (difficult to awaken), respiratory problems, or diarrhoea recurs.
4) Explain that after measles complications can still occur, that the child is still vulnerable (due to immune amnesia), and that they should bring the child back in right away if they develop symptoms (fever, cough, weight loss, etc.) and make sure that the immunisation schedule vaccines are administered properly.
5) Close contacts do not receive prophylactic treatment but should be monitored and consult if symptoms appear.