Pediatrics is an important field of medical science which
deals the health problems and medical care of infants, children, and
adolescents, and the age limit usually ranges from birth up to 18 years of age.
In some places, it covers the health issues until completion of secondary
education, and until age 21 such as in United States. A medical consultant who
specializes in this area is called as a paediatrician. Paediatricians work both
in hospitals, mainly those working in its specialized subfields such as
neonatology, and as primary care physicians who specialize in children.
An accepted component of well child care is the measurement
of growth parameters at each health visit. Height, weight and circumference are
measured and plotted at each check-up. Professionals who interact with children
should be familiar with basic developmental stages and child’s progress through
them. Children with complex health care for
chronic illness and disability require range of services to achieve an
acceptable quality of life. As a result, case management has become important
aspect of paediatric care as it helps to ensure that these services are
coordinated and delivered in effective way. Paediatric case managers play
various role such as locating, accessing and coordinating services.
Family centred care and care management are major practices
in paediatric care. Major elements of Family centred care include the following
assumptions:
1. The family is
the constant but health care system and personal change.
2. Family
diversity, strengths and individuality are recognized.
3. Information
is exchanged in complete and unbiased manner.4. Family to family support is encouraged.
Management of Paediatric Care:
Paediatric Care Management is vital element of the home
healthcare industry. Paediatric Nurses and doctors are qualified to perform
numerous specialized services in several critical situations such as:
1. Basic Newborn
Care
2. Adolescent
AIDS
3. Autism
Spectrum Disorder
4. Childhood
Cancers and Blood Disorders
5. Diabetes
6. Epilepsy
7. Neuromuscular
Disorder
8. Sensory
Disorders
9. Occupational
and Physical Therapy Needs
10. Speech and
Language Therapy
11. Post-Surgical
Care
12. Wound Care
Home care can be a more suitable technique of care
management for children that range from new-born to adolescence and their
families instead of hospitalization and residential treatment centre options.
Many healthcare services can be offered in the child’s own home such as
intravenous therapy, tube feeding, tracheotomy and ventilator care, ambulatory
patient care, pain and medication management, incontinence care, meal
preparation, personal hygiene assistance, and vital sign management and
reporting
Since last many years, home healthcare for paediatric
patients had constantly increased, and is the preferred option for continuous
care in the United States. Home healthcare for children is the best way to
“optimize each child’s health and function while minimizing recurring or
continued hospitalizations through the facility of comprehensive, profitable,
family-centred health care reduced in a fostering home environment.
There are several Steps of Paediatric Transitional Care:
Following patient discharge, there are six main issues that
primary care providers should be sure to address:
1. Establish a
partnership with the family to recognize the resources available in supporting
the transition process and long-term achievement.
2. Describe,
locate, and involve a medical home.
3. Guarantee
that family members and other care providers are sufficiently trained for the
challenges ahead.
4. Help in the
selection of a home nursing agency/providers of supplies and equipment.
5. Recognize
respite care providers.
6. Freely
communicate with the patient’s school district to ensure an Individualized
Education Plan (IEP) process for school services can be initiated.
Many health professionals have emphasized that parents and
caregivers should know these responsibilities and be sure that their primary
care provider is ensuring the best possible care for the young patients
involved. Paediatric Home Care is a systematic, cooperative effort that must
incorporate explicit care coordination, family-centred care, and advanced
planning to ensure the best experience for the child, and all those involved in
their care.
Diagnosing HIV Infection in Infants and Children:
There is a need to address the care and treatment of
HIV-exposed and infected infants and children. The aim of paediatric HIV/AIDS
care and treatment is to maximize resources while guaranteeing provision of
unbiased care.
According to some medical studies, 90% of HIV infection in
children is transmitted through the mother during pregnancy, labour and
delivery, and after childbirth through breastfeeding. There is a need to detect
HIV infection in infants and children at early stage since the disease
progresses rapidly in children with 50% mortality by age two. Passively
transferred maternal HIV antibodies make interpretation of positive antibody
tests difficult in children under 18 months. In order to diagnose HIV infection
in children under 18 months, there is a need to detect the virus or its
components (i.e. virologic tests). DNA PCR is the preferred method of choice
for HIV diagnosis in infants and children under 18 months. Use of Dried Blood
Spots (DBS) for DNA PCR is reliable means of increasing access to infant HIV
diagnosis since it is easier to obtain, store and transport for centralized
testing. In children 18 months and older, rapid antibody tests reliably
diagnose HIV infection.
Major goals of early Diagnosis of HIV in Infants and
Children are to distinguish HIV-infected infants early in order to provide them
with lifesaving ART, not to exclude infection and to help early access to care
and treatment which decreases morbidity and death. A child with suspected HIV
infection generally indicates a family/family member with suspected HIV.
Counselling must be done to the parents and issues of
consent, competence to consent, disclosure and confidentiality needs.
HIV-exposed infants need regular follow-up since they are at risk of morbidity
and mortality regardless of infection status.
Paediatrician also take care of patients with asthma.
Children with acute asthma exacerbations normally present to an emergency
department with signs of respiratory distress. The most severe episodes are
possibly life-threatening. Effective treatment depends on the precise and rapid
assessment of disease severity at presentation.
It has been advised by medical experts that along with
caring for a child’s primary health concern as well as the requirements of
their families, caregivers must address their paediatric patient’s mental
health needs. In addition to financial changes, the role of primary care
providers must be expanded in promoting the socio-emotional health and
well-being of their child and adolescent patients. Effective ways to recover
the mental health status of children, and all potentially patients, is through
Expressive Therapy techniques. These creative approaches utilize art, music,
writing, and movement interactively to help better understand and manage
patient’s emotions, promote relaxation, and overcome trauma. While most
hospitals deliver children’s life services that integrate these techniques,
most children with home care will miss out on the benefits of this type of
therapy unless a professional Expressive Therapist is employed for private sessions.
It is well recognized the significance of the
paediatrician’s role to offer medical services for children with the most
critical physical and psycho-social conditions. These families often tolerate
severe strain in order to navigate many branches of the health system. These
families particularly, need a high functioning paediatric medical home that can
quickly and proactively offer best quality care as well as promote their
ability to successfully self-manage their children’s requirements.
Important note:
Above article is based on environmental inputs and reflects the analysis of the
writer on the topic. It can be referred to as a general overview. Readers are
advised to contact professionals in case of medical information. Any
resemblance is just a coincidence. Writer is not responsible for any
disagreement.
