What is paediatric care?

 

Death of children is tragic and especially in the developed countries where many childhood diseases have been eradicated, it can be very difficult for the family to accept such news. Research has found that infant deaths are mainly due to perinatal conditions such as prematurity, chromosomal disorder or congenital disorder. Whereas those in older children are more likely to die from external causes i.e. traumatic injury. Cancer is still the major cause of death in children over the age of one year old.  

 

Paediatric palliative care is aimed at children and adolescence with life limiting diseases  i.e. diseases that shorten the duration of life such as heart failure, motor neurone disease where there is no hope of cure.  

 

The following groups of children should be receiving palliative care;

 

• Group 1 ;Life threatening disease where treatment /cure is possible but can fail.

• Group 2 ;Premature death will eventually occur and treatment aim to prolong life and may require long periods of treatment to prolong life i.e. in cystic fibrosis.

• Group 3 ;Progressive condition which has not got a cure and relying solely on palliative care i.e. muscular dystrophy.

• Group 4 ;Irreversible but non progressive illness but has complex health needs  with complications which may cause premature death i.e. severe cerebral palsy.