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A survey of signs, symptoms and symptom control in 30 terminally ill children
1Helen House, Oxford.
Insights
Pain was common in terminally ill children, with over 80% experiencing it in their last month. Some symptoms, like muscle spasms, were hard to manage in pediatric palliative care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Palliative Care
- Symptom Management in Terminally Ill Children
Background:
- Terminally ill children experience various symptoms requiring specialized care.
- Hospice care aims to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for children nearing end-of-life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze symptom frequency and treatment resistance in terminally ill children during their last month of life.
- To discuss symptom identification in vulnerable pediatric populations and challenges in managing difficult symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical notes for 30 terminally ill children.
- Analysis of symptom occurrence and response to treatment during the final month of life.
Main Results:
- Pain was reported in over 80% of children during their last month.
- Symptoms such as muscle spasms and excessive secretions were frequently resistant to treatment.
- Challenges were noted in identifying and managing symptoms in brain-damaged and young children.
Conclusions:
- Pain is a prevalent symptom requiring effective management in pediatric palliative care.
- Certain symptoms present significant challenges in symptom control for terminally ill children.
- Further research is needed to improve symptom identification and management strategies for vulnerable pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The notes of 30 terminally ill children with various diagnoses were searched for reports of symptoms that had occurred during their last month of life. All had stayed at Helen House, a hospice for children, for part or all of that time. The results were analysed for symptom frequency and resistance to treatment. Over four-fifths of the children were recorded as having pain in the last month of life. In a smaller number, symptoms such as muscle spasm and excessive secretions proved particularly difficult to control. The identification of symptoms in brain-damaged and young children, and the control of some of the more resistant symptoms, are discussed.