This pocket book consists of guidelines on triage, assessment & classification of illness severity, criteria for admission, and inpatient management of the major causes of childhood morbidity & mortality such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, severe acute malnutrition, meningitis, HIV, TB and neonatal conditions. The guidelines target management ofthe seriously ill newborn or child in the first 24 - 48 hours of arrival at a health facility. The booklet is aimed at doctors, clinical officers, nurses and other health workers responsible for the care of sick newborns and young children at all levels of care. It will also be useful for defining basic evidence-informedcare to students in medical schools and other health training institutions. The guidelines presume health facilities that provide care should have the capacity to do essential investigations for common serious childhood illnesses and avail essential drugs for the care of seriously sick children.