The WHO/UNICEF guidelines for Integrated Management of Childhood Illness offer simple and effective methods to prevent and manage the leading causes of serious illness and mortality in young children. The clinical guidelines promote evidence-based assessment and treatment using a syndromic approach that supports the rational, effective, and affordable use of drugs. The IMCI model handbook provides a detailed explanation of the IMCI case management guidelines. It is organized into seven main parts: overview of the IMCI process; assess and classify the sick child age 2 months up to 5 years; assess and classify the sick young infant age 1 week up to 2 months; identify treatment; treat the sick child or the sick young infant; communicate and counsel; and give follow-up care.

The IMCI charts and related in-service training materials provided in this handbook are considered to be a generic version. The WHO Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development created this handbook to help teaching institutions incorporate IMCI into academic programs for doctors, nurses and other health professionals. Teaching institutions are advised to adapt the handbook in two ways: (1) to ensure that all text charts and illustrations are consistent with nationally-adapted IMCI clinical guidelines, and (2) to ensure that its content and format corresponds to the teaching approach used by the institution.