Health Impairments

ASTHMA

DIABETES

BURNS

EPILEPSY

HEMOPHILIA

Asthma- A chronic lung disease characterized by episodic bouts of wheezing, coughing, and difficulty in breathing due to the inflammation of the airways in the lungs

In the United States, asthma affects an estimated 26 million people — many of whom may not be aware that they have it, especially if their symptoms aren’t severe.

Causes

o exposure to an allergen (such as ragweed, pollen, animal dander or dust mites)

o irritants in the air (such as smoke, chemical fumes or strong odors)

o extreme weather conditionso exercise or an illness —

particularly a respiratory illness or the flu — can also make you more susceptible.

Asthma symptoms may be triggered by

o A physical display of strong emotion that affects normal breathing patterns — such as shouting, crying or laughing — can also act as an asthma trigger.

Panic can prevent a person with asthma from relaxing and following instructions, which is essential during an asthma attack. Scientists have found that rapid breathing associated with strong emotions can cause bronchial tubes to constrict, possibly provoking or worsening an attack.

Symptoms

Most children with asthma have symptoms before they turn 5. In very young children, it may be hard for parents, and even doctors, to recognize that the symptoms are due to asthma (American College of Allergy, Asthma % Immunology).

Coughing Wheezing/whistling when

breathing

Trouble/fast breathing

Frequent colds

Common symptoms include:

http://acaai.org/asthma/symptoms

Diabetes- A disorder of metabolism that affects the way the body absorbs and breaks down sugars and starches in food.

- Children with diabetes have insufficient insulin, a hormone normally produced by the pancreas necessary for proper metabolism and digestion of food

Early symptoms include:

thirst

headaches

Weight loss

Frequent urination

Cuts that are slow to heal

Epilepsy

- A convulsive disorder commonly known as seizure, a disturbance of movement, sensation, behaviour and/or consciousness caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

The specific causes of epilepsy are NOT clearly known.

Aura- A short warning sensation before seizure

- Takes different forms in different people: distinctive feelings, sights, sounds, tastes, and even smells

- Useful valve enabling the child to leave the class or group before the seizure occurs

Several types of Seizureso Generalized tonic-clonic siezure/ grand mal

- most conspicuous and serious type

Characteristics:

Child has little or no warning that a seizure is about to occur

Muscles become stiff

Child loses consciousness Falls to the floor

Body shakes violently as the muscles alternately contract and relax

Saliva may be forced out of the mouth

Legs and arms may jerk

Bladder and bowels may be emptied

Contractions diminish after 2-5 minutes – the child either goes to sleep or regains consciousness in a confused or drowsy state

This type of seizure may occur as often as several times a day or as seldom as once a year and more likely to occur during the day than at night.

o Absence seizure/ petit mal

- far less severe than the generalized tonic-clonic seizure but may occur more frequently, as often as 100 times per day

Characteristics: Brief loss of consciousness

Child may stare blankly

Flutter or blink his/her eyes

Grow pale

Drop whatever he/she is holding

Mistake him/her daydreaming or not listening

o Partial seizure

Simple partial seizure

Sudden jerking motions with no loss of consciousness

Occur weekly, monthly, or only once or twice a year

Complex partial seizure

Child may smack his/her lips Walk around aimlessly

Shout

May appear conscious but is not actually aware of the behavior

Interventions by teachers:

a. Keep calm

b. Ease the child to the floor and clear the area around him/her

c. Put something flat and soft under the head

d. Do not try to revive the child and interfere with the movements

e. Turn the body gently to the side to keep the airways clear and allow saliva to drain away

f. When the jerking movements stop, let the child rest until he/she regains consciousness

g. Breathing may be shallow during the seizure, and may even stop briefly

Epilepsy School Alert, The Epilepsy Foundation of America, 1987

Hemophilia

- A rare hereditary disorder in which the blood does not clot as quickly as it should

The most serious consequences are usually internal, rather than external bleeding contrary to popular opinion.

Internal bleeding can cause swelling, pain, and permanent damage to joints, tissues, and internal organs may necessitate hospitalization for blood transfusion.

Burns- A damage to your body's tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight or radiation. Scalds from hot liquids and steam, building fires and flammable liquids and gases are the most common causes of burns.

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/burns.html

Another kind is an inhalation injury, caused by breathing smoke.

First – degree burns

Second – degree burns

Third – degree burns

Three types of burns

Burn Levelshttp://www.healthline.com/health/burns#BurnLevels2

First-degree burns cause minimal skin damage. They are also called “superficial burns” because they affect the outermost layer of skin.

o Rednesso minor inflammation (swelling)o Paino dry, peeling skin (occurs as the

burn heals)

First-Degree Burns

Signs of a first-degree burn include:

First-degree burns usually heal within three to six days. Still, you should see your doctor if the burn affects a large area of skin (more than three inches), and if it’s on your face or a major joint.

Since this burn affects the top layer of skin, the signs and symptoms disappear once the skin cells shed.

Treatments

o soak the wound in cool water for five minutes or longer

o take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief

o apply aloe vera gel or cream to soothe the skin

o use an antibiotic ointment and loose gauze to protect the affected area

Healing time may be quicker if you treat the burn sooner.

o make sure you don’t use ice, as this may make the damage worse. Never apply cotton balls to a burn because the small fibers can stick to the injury and increase the risk of infection.

o avoid home remedies like butter and eggs as these are not proven to be effective.

Second-Degree Burns

- more serious because the damage extends beyond the top layer of skin- this type of extensive damage causes the skin to blister and become extremely red and sore. Some blisters pop open, giving the burn a wet appearance.

Some second-degree burns take longer than three weeks to heal, but most heal within two to three weeks. The worse the blisters are, the longer the burn will take to heal.

In some severe cases, skin grafting is required to fix the subsequent damage. Skin grafting borrows healthy skin from another area of the body and replaces it at the site of the burned skin.

o running the skin under cool water for 15 minutes or longer

o taking over-the-counter pain medication (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)

o applying antibiotic cream to blisterso However, seek emergency medical

treatment if burns affect a widespread area of the:

facehandsbuttocksgroinfeet

Treatments

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns are the worst burns. They cause the most damage, extending through every layer of skin. The damage can even reach the bloodstream, major organs, and bones, which can lead to death.

With this type of burn, the damage is so extensive that you may not feel pain because your nerves are damaged. Depending on the cause, third-degree burns cause the skin to look:

waxy and white

charred

dark brown

raised and leathery

Never attempt to self-treat a third-degree burn.

While you’re waiting for medical treatment, raise the injury above your heart. Don’t get undressed, but make sure no clothing is stuck to the burn. There is no set healing timeline for third-degree burns.

Complications

o Infections, blood loss, and shock.

Sepsis, or a bloodstream infection, can occur in the most severe cases. This can lead to shock or even death.

o Tetanus is another possible complication with burns of all levels

Like sepsis, tetanus is a bacterial infection. It affects the nervous system, eventually leading to problems with muscle contractions.

o Severe burns also carry the risk of hypothermia and hypovolemia

Hypothermia is characterized by dangerously low body temperatures. While this may seem like an unexpected complication of a burn, the condition is actually prompted by excessive loss of body heat from an injury. Hypovolemia, or low blood volume, occurs when your body loses too much blood from a burn.

Hypothermia

Hypovolemia

o Scars are a complication of all burns.

Severe burns may cause keloids, which are discolored areas of scar tissue on the skin. While keloids aren’t harmful in themselves, they can be bothersome. The appearance of scar tissue can worsen with sun exposure, so be sure to wear adequate sunscreen on any exposed areas.

Degree Burns Characteristicsfirst-degree red, non-blistered skin

second-degree blisters and some thickening of the skin

third-degree widespread thickness with a white, leathery

appearance

fourth-degree extends beyond the skin into tendons and bones.

Preventing All Levels of Burns

The best way to fight burns is to prevent them from happening altogether. Certain jobs put you at a greater risk for burns, but the fact is that most of them happen at home. Infants and young children are the most vulnerable to burns.

o Keep children out of the kitchen while cooking.

o Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove.

o Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove.

o Test smoke detectors once a month.

o Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.

o Keep water heater temperature under 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

o Measure bath water temperature before use.

o Lock up matches and lighters.

o Install electrical outlet covers.

o Check and discard electrical cords with exposed wires.

o Keep chemicals out of reach, and wear gloves during chemical use.

o Wear sunscreen every day, and avoid peak sunlight.

o Ensure all smoking products are stubbed out completely.

o Clean out dryer lint traps regularly.

o It’s also important to have a fire escape plan and to practice it with your family once a month. In the event of a fire, make sure to crawl underneath smoke. This will minimize the risk of passing out and becoming trapped in a fire.

Outlook for Burns

When properly and quickly treated, the outlook for first and second-degree burns is good. These burns are also less prone to scarring. The key is to minimize further damage and infection. Extensive damage from severe second-degree and third-degree burns can lead to problems in deep skin tissues, bones, and organs.

Patients may require:

Surgery

physical therapy

Rehabilitation

lifelong assisted care

While it’s important to gain adequate physical treatment from burns, don’t forget to find help for your emotional needs. There are support groups available for burn victims, as well as certified counselors.

Other health impairments

Heart disease

- A range of conditions that affect the heart. - Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects), among others.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/

Leukemia

- Cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.

- An inflammatory disease that can develop as a complication of inadequately treated strep throat or scarlet fever.

Rheumatic fever

http://www.mayoclinic.org/

- Inflammation of the kidney, which causes impaired kidney function (http://www.medicinenet.com/).

Nephritis

- Occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over a period of months or years.

Lead poisoning

- Children under the age of 6 are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development (http://www.mayoclinic.org/).