SP case scenarios for both adults and children, with expected management
| Description of the case scenario | Symptoms | Opening statement by the SP on entering the pharmacy | Expected management |
| Upper respiratory tract infection (URI), likely of viral aetiology | Individual with a 2-day history of acute-onset low-grade fever, with runny nose and non-productive cough; does not look sick. Family members have similar symptoms. | Child with URI: ‘Sir/Ma’am, my niece at home has fever and cough. Can you give me some medicine for her?’ | Acceptable: Not dispensing antibiotics, with or without referral to a doctor; dispensing symptomatic treatments according to current guidelines. Unacceptable: Dispensing antibiotics and/or steroids. |
| Adult with URI: ‘Since two days I have cough and fever. Can you help me?’ | |||
| Uncomplicated, acute diarrhoea | Individual with 1-day history of acute onset, watery diarrhoea; no blood in the stool. No fever. Appears well hydrated. | Child with diarrhoea: ‘Sir/Ma’am, my niece at home has diarrhoea. Can you give me some medicine for her?’ | Acceptable: Dispensing oral rehydration salts (ORS), not dispensing antibiotics, with or without referral to a doctor. For paediatric SPs, zinc should be given with ORS. Unacceptable: Dispensing antibiotics and restricted antimotility drugs such as loperamide. |
| Adult with diarrhoea: ‘I have diarrhoea. Can you help me?’ | |||
| Acute febrile illness suggestive of malaria | Individual with a 4-day history of high fever with shivering/chills, every other day; no cough or any other symptoms. No headache, fits or altered consciousness. | Child with fever: ‘Sir/Ma’am, since four days my niece has fever and chills. Can you give me some medicine for him?’ | Acceptable: Referral for malaria blood test without dispensing antimalarials or antibiotics. Unacceptable: Dispensing antimalarials, other antibiotics or steroids. |
| Adult with fever: ‘I have fever since a few days that is not going away. I also get chills.’ |
SP, standardised patient.