The Impact of Chronic Diseases on Children and Their Families Research Paper

The Impact of Chronic Diseases on Children and Their Families - Research Paper Example incidence; moreover, although not commonly seen among children in Australia, cancer has also become one of the most common causes of death among Australian children (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006). Other chronic illnesses seen among Australia’s school-age children include cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Risk factors for this disease are mostly modifiable risks which include childhood obesity, unhealthy, and lack of physical activity (Berk, 2008). These chronic conditions impact on children as well as their families because they take place at a time which is crucial to the child’s development (Slater, et.al., 2010). In some cases, care for these children often lasts a lifetime, as seen in diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (Slater, et.al., 2010). For example, Type 1 diabetes calls for lifetime care and multiprofessional medical management; moreover, self-management needs to be emphasized to the child for eventual independ ent management. It is also a costly type of care because of the prolonged nature of the disease and the prolonged treatment needed (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006). The illness and the treatment process involved can impact negatively on the children and their families, economically, socially, as well as psychologically. As these children are still developing physically and emotionally, their care is different from the care required of chronically ill adults (Wilson, et.al., 2008). Even as the social and economic conditions of the families can also impact on a child’s overall care, it is also a crucial element in the overall outcome of chronic childhood diseases. Moreover, children who have chronic illnesses, along with their families have a high risk of experiencing psychological... This study shall then be concluded based on recommendations which nurses can implement as primary health care givers. Chronic diseases among children are significant health issues because they impact significantly on the quality of lives and on the development of children. In Australia, asthma is considered the most common chronic illness among children 0-14 years of age. In recent years, diabetes has also increased in incidence; moreover, although not commonly seen among children in Australia, cancer has also become one of the most common causes of death among Australian children. Other chronic illnesses seen among Australia’s school-age children include cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Risk factors for this disease are mostly modifiable risks which include childhood obesity, unhealthy, and lack of physical activity. This paper declares that Chronic diseases among children cause issues in his normal development, issues which mostly relate to delayed developmental processes. Varni, et.al.,describes how children with diabetes, GI conditions, cardiac afflictions, asthma, obesity, ESRD, psychiatric issues, cancer, and cerebral palsy manifested with an impaired health-related quality of life, as compared to healthy children. The study revealed that those with cerebral palsy manifested the most impairment, and those with diabetes presented with the best quality of life. Among parents, they expressed that cardiac afflictions, diabetes, obesity, GI diseases, ESRD, asthma, cancer, and cerebral palsy caused a decreased quality in their lives.