Welcome to the About.com Health Channel blog carnival! The topic for this month is: How does chronic illness affect children and teens differently than it does adults?How Illnesses Affect Children
There are many chronic illnesses that affect children, and children with chronic disease are not a small group. In fact, the incidence of certain illnesses in children is rising. Children with chronic illnesses are often underserved by a health care system that doesn't know what to do with them. Medications are not always tested on children, often because of ethical concerns, but that leaves parents and children in a void of information when it comes to choosing the right drugs.
Illnesses may affect children differently than they do adults, but this is not always taken into account. Kids are still growing, which means that illnesses can affect their brains, bones, and even their final height as adults.
Children have challenges when it comes to discussing or even being aware of their symptoms, or of how medications affect them. Even older kids and teens may not always have the vocabulary to express the finer nuances of how they feel. Parents may be able translate to a certain extent, but young children may not be able to express how they feel, and older children and teens may not divulge important information for more complicated reasons.Blog Carnival Posts About Chronic Illness In Kids
The About.com Health Guides have contributed their knowledge and expertise to the topic of chronic illness in children. Here are their entries:
- Dawn Stacey M.Ed, LMHC, About.com Guide to Contraception, explains the connection that hormonal birth control has to chronic illness in young women. Even though it's known as the contraceptive pill, "the pill" is a medication, and it is often prescribed for conditions that have nothing at all to do with preventing pregnancy. Hormones can help improve the lives of young women who suffer from acne, endometriosis, irregular menstrual cycles, or anemia. These conditions can have far-reaching effects on the health and well-being of girls and women. Dawn explains how in her post, The Beneficial Link Between Contraception and Chronic Illness.
- Chronic illness can affect us in all stages of life, and for some, it may even begin at birth. Cheryl Morrissette, About.com Guide to Preemies, reminds us that parents play an integral role in monitoring their children for chronic illness. As the mother of a late preterm baby, I often wonder what the future will bring for my daughter, and if there are any health problems in her future because she came into the world early. In particular, the parents of premature infants must be vigilant in working with many different medical specialists to ensure that any potential chronic illness is caught early as Cheryl explains in her post, Long Term Impact of Premature Birth.
- Digestive disease in particular can have a profound effect on children and teens as they try to navigate the world and to make their own place in it. Barbara Bradley Bolen, Ph.D., About.com Guide to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), discusses the many ways that IBS can affect kids and their families. IBS in particular is difficult because it is still poorly understood and people with IBS are still thought of as malingerers or mentally ill. Diet and behavior modification, so crucial to the treatment of IBS, can be a significant challenge for kids and their parents. Kids with IBD may endure bathroom accidents, teasing, and discrimination at school, as well as the symptoms of IBS. Learn more about how IBS affects kids in Barbara's post, Chronic Illness in Kids & Teens: IBS.
As a parent, how can you help your child deal with their chronic illness? Children need special handling, and as a parent, you're going to be responsible for monitoring their healthcare just as you monitor your own -- maybe even more than you monitor your own. Picking your pediatrician is very important, and you shouldn't apologize for wanting to interview pediatricians, or for changing pediatricians if you feel it's necessary.
Your teenager will have different needs than a younger child or a baby. Younger children will need you to do everything for them, but older kids and teens can start to take some responsibility for their own healthcare. Teens may want to be responsible for taking their medication, for example. One day your child will need to care for their illness on their own, so it's important to start fostering independence early, and giving age-appropriate responsibilities when it comes to health care.
The emotional side of a chronic illness is often ignored, and it really is one of the most important parts to be addressed. Children sometimes seem to take everything in stride, when they could be feeling a significant amount of anxiety and sadness surrounding their diagnosis. In some cases, children with chronic illness are at risk of depression.
Even with the advances that have been made, children with chronic illness often face an uphill battle. Parents, caregivers, and those who love children who are dealing with chronic illness can often make a positive difference in children's lives.