CHRONIC ILLNESS & ALLERGIES

Question 1

what are some points in relation to disclosure of children’s chronic illness by parents?

Answer 1

parents/ guardians are not required to disclose their child’s chronic illness to teachers as there may be more benefits to disclosure rather than the disadvantages of labelling.
furthermore, health plans cannot be implemented without parental disclosure.

Question 2

what are some points in relation to disclosure of children’s chronic illness by children?

Answer 2

children are able to disclosure their condition in class or to peers even if parent has not disclosed to the school.

Question 3

what is care coordination?

Answer 3

care coordination involves at least one professional, potentially a family member being responsible for coordinating the care provided.
the point of care coordination is to avoid duplication of services and gaps in services. e.g. education and occupational therapy providing similar services.

Question 4

what illnesses should have an individual health care plan for children?

Answer 4

if children are diagnosed with severe anxiety, type 1 diabetes, epilepsy or anaphylaxis.

Question 5

what is included briefly in the biopsycholocial approach to understanding health?

Answer 5

it includes understanding health through the perspective of biology (e.g. gender, disability, immune function), perspective of social context (family background, cultural traditions, social/ economic status, and psychology (learning memory/ attitudes/ beliefs/ personality) .

Question 6

what are some important things to note when responding to seizures, asthma attacks etc?

Answer 6

• can can cause distress to onlookers
• child with the chronic illness may feel embarrassed
• preparation for emergencies can reduce the social discomfort
• open discussion is important.

Question 7

how common is asthma in Australia?

Answer 7

it is the leading chronic illness for children birth-14 years.

Question 8

how can asthma affect physical activity for children?

Answer 8

• many children are reluctant to engage in physical activity because it may trigger asthma, thus asthma management plan is important and might include e.g. taking preventer medication and discontinuation if an attack occurs.
• but otherwise, there is no reason why a child with controlled asthma cannot engage in high level sport.

Question 9

why is physical activity important for children with e.g. asthma?

Answer 9

physical activity can help us understand how our body responds when placed under stress.
- through PA, children can learn the difference between a response that typically occurs in exercise and a response that is indicative of their condition

Question 10

what is included in hospital and post-hospital recovery?

Answer 10

most children’s hospitals will accommodate opportunities for education during the child’s admission period, and if possible children should be offered opportunities to continue their education from home e.g. through zoom or other video lessons.

Question 11

how should returning to school/ centre be?

Answer 11

children returning to school/ centre after post-hospital recovery should be:

• gradual
• planned
• develop or revise the health support plan
• allow for ongoing appointments that might impact attendance
• support the child’s return to the peer group - e.g. a buddy system to help them re-establish themselves in their social group.

Question 12

what do allergies interfere with?

Answer 12

• concentration
• sleep
• social functioning
• recreational activities

Question 13

what is the simple definition of allergy?

Answer 13

• immune response to a substance that is not inherently threatening to human health

Question 14

what is the simple definition of allergen?

Answer 14

• a substance (antigen) that leads to an allergic reaction

Question 15

what is the simple definition of atopy?

Answer 15

• tendency to develop allergic reactions

Question 16

what is the simple definition of anaphylaxis?

Answer 16

• extreme life threatening reaction.

Question 17

what are the 4 different types of allergies?

Answer 17

• skin contact, ingestion, injection, inhalation.

Question 18

what are some typical symptoms of allergies?

Answer 18

• hives, itching, blocked or runny nose, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, irritated eyes, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.

Question 19

what does hayfever lead to? and what are some treatments for it?

Answer 19

hayfever can lead to poor quality sleep/ snoring, and complications in control of asthma.
they can be treated with salt water nasal sprays.

Question 20

what does eczema lead to and what are some treatments for it?

Answer 20

extreme itchiness, children who outgrow atopic dermatitis may later develop asthma or allergic rhinitis.

it can be treated often with petroleum jelly.

Question 21

what are some common food allergies?

Answer 21

milk, egg, nuts, fish, soy, peanuts, and sesame

Question 22

what is VOCs and what are they?

Answer 22

VOC stands for volatile organic compounds THAT are substances that become gases or vapours at room temp and can cause allergic reactions such as throat and nasal discomfort, irritation and headache.

Question 23

what can childcare places and schools do to decrease VOCs?

Answer 23

• ensure good ventilation
• choose carpet, paint, rubber flooring
• allow a good period for ventilation before using a refurbished room
• air computers or similar before introducing to the classroom
• reduce use of deodorisers, insect sprays etc

Question 24

what is mandatory training for teachers in relation to allergies for children?

Answer 24

mandatory anaphylaxis training for school staff, anaphylaxis e-learning that can be done through ASCIA