Supporting Children with Medical Conditions

Hull City Council

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN:
  9781138914896
• eBook ISBN:
  9781317395249
• Topic: Didattica
• Subtopic: Didattica generale

The fully revised new edition of Supporting Children with Medical Conditions provides teachers and practitioners with a reference to medical conditions most commonly found amongst school-aged children, including asthma, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, eczema, epilepsy, head injuries, heart conditions, hydrocephalus and spina bifida. With up to date advice for practitioners, each condition is clearly described in terms of causes, symptoms and treatment, and the authors accessibly explain the educational implications – what teachers and support staff should be aware of, how they can minimise pupils' difficulties in school and maximise access to the curriculum.

With all the vital information practitioners will need to know about Medical Conditions, this book includes:

• Definitions of different Medical Conditions and their educational implications
• Guidelines for staff providing intimate personal care for pupils
• Suggestions to allow pupils to have full access to the curriculum

Fully updated with the 2014 SEND Code of Practice and the guidance published in 2014 on 'Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions', this text will help professionals be more effective in supporting learners in a variety of settings. It also features useful checklists, templates and photocopiable resources.

Section III

Medical conditions and possible educational implications

5 Anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis)

Definition

Anaphylaxis is an acute allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention.

Cause

It is most commonly triggered by substances to which the pupil is sensitive, e.g. nuts, eggs, milk, shellfish, certain drugs, venom from stinging insects.

Symptoms

Symptoms will vary from individual to individual and will depend on what type of contact there has been with the substance causing the allergic reaction.

Symptoms can include:

• itching;

• strange metallic taste in the mouth;

• sensation of burning or itching of the tongue, lips, throat;

• swelling of the face, lips, tongue with or without difficulty in swallowing;

• skin blotches;

• generalised flushing of the skin;

• abdominal cramps or nausea;

• increased heart rate;

• difficulty in breathing;

• sudden feeling of weakness (dizziness/fainting);

• collapse;

• unconsciousness.

Few pupils would experience all these symptoms.

Treatment

• Avoid substances which are known to cause a reaction.

• Use of Epipen (adrenaline) to reverse the reaction.

For further information contact:

The Anaphylaxis Campaign PO Box 275

Farnborough GU14 7SX

Tel: [phone] www.anaphylaxis.org.uk

Educational implications

Staff training and administrative issues

‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’ (2014) provides the legal framework that schools are required to work within. It contains advice and pro formas for school use.

• Medical training should be arranged for staff who have volunteered to administer medication in an emergency. This is usually in the form of Epipen.

• A clear procedure should be established for summoning an ambulance in an emergency.

• A foolproof mechanism should be established for the sharing of information with all staff who come into contact with the pupil.

Food management issues

• School meals – the catering supervisor needs to be aware of the pupil’s requirements in relation to the menu. A packed lunch provided by the family may be preferable to a school meal.

• Snacks and treats in the classroom and playground – staff and pupils should be made aware that some pupils may not be able to share such treats.

• It may be necessary for some foods to be refused in school, if a pupil has a severe reaction to a particular food.

• Science and food technology experiments with food – these curriculum areas may cause difficulty for the pupil who is at risk of anaphylaxis. Suitable alternative arrangements should be made.

Individual Health Care Plan

The Individual Health Care Plan should be drawn up with the parents and school nurse. The following points should be considered:

• definition of the allergy;

• emergency procedure to be followed;

• treatment;

• food management;

• precautionary measures;

• staff training;

• staff indemnity;

• parental consent and agreement.

See ‘Individual Health Care Plans’ (pages 91–4) for full details.

6 Arthrogryposis

Definition

Arthrogryposis or Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita describes a baby born with multiple joint contractures (a contracture is a limitation in the range of movement of a joint). It covers a wide range of conditions, Amyoplasia being the most common form. This is not a hereditary condition but Distal Arthrogryposis has a genetic basis. The incidence of Arthrogryposis is 1 in 10,000 births.

Children with arthrogryposis may be characterised by the internal rotation of the hands, sloping shoulders and long, tapering fingers; however, the positions of feet, knees and hips are variable. In some children only two or three joints are affected, but in others all joints, including the spine and jaw, are affected. Most children will be within the normal range of cognitive ability.

Causes

A number of factors can affect the normal development of the joint and cause the fixation:

• muscle defects caused by the failure of muscles to form or function normally in the womb or by a degenerative process taking place at this time;

• abnormal connective tissue or joints causing limited movement;

• a neurological deficit caused by absent, abnormal or malfunctioning nerves;

• insufficient space in the womb for the foetus to move as a result of an abnormal womb shape, insufficient fluid or more than one developing foetus.

Treatment

• Early diagnosis is very important to enable treatment to start as soon as possible.

• Physiotherapy should start immediately to develop a programme of passive stretching combined with the use of splints.

• Serial plasters and corrective surgery can complement physiotherapy as the child grows.

• Lightweight orthoses may help standing and walking.

• Improvement of hand function is sometimes achieved through surgical intervention.

• Many children improvise and learn ways to overcome their own difficulties.

For further information contact:

TAG (The Arthrogryposis Group)

www.tagonline.org.uk

Educational implications

As with all medical conditions the severity of this condition can vary. Some pupils remain ambulant throughout their school days whilst others may require a wheelchair to aid mobility. It may be necessary to consider the following points when planning to include a pupil with arthrogryposis:

• plan classroom allocation taking restricted mobility into account, e.g. registration rooms on the ground floor;

• be aware that the pupil may have difficulty in climbing stairs;

• the pupil is likely to have difficulty sitting on the floor during carpet time and assemblies;

• PE lessons may require differentiation, consult with the occupational therapist and physiotherapist for advice;

• a physical management routine may need to be incorporated in the school day – consider by whom, where and when this will be implemented;

• manipulation of standard classroom equipment can be difficult if arms and hands are affected;

• limited recording abilities may necessitate use of specialised fine motor equipment and the early introduction to word processing skills;

• provide ICT equipment for recording work;

• reorganise positioning of equipment in the classroom to aid independent access;

• support the pupil in organisation of their personal effects, such as school bag;

• facilitate disabled toilet access with support if required;

• carefully consider arrangements for out-of-school visits and work experience placements;

• investigate home/school transport if necessary.

7 Asthma

Definition

• Asthma is a common condition which affects the airways in the lungs.

• Symptoms occur in response to exposure to a trigger, e.g. pollen, dust, smoke, exercise.

• Symptoms include cough, wheeze, chest tightness and breathlessness. Symptoms are usually easily reversible by use of a reliever inhaler.

• Sufferers may experience an acute episode requiring rapid medical or hospital treatment.

Record keeping

• Pupils with asthma should be named in an ‘Asthma Register’, for all school staff.

• Updated at least annually or more frequently, using parental information.

Medication

• Only reliever inhalers (usually blue) should be kept in school.

• An emergency inhaler should be kept centrally (guidance in ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical needs’, 2014). To obtain an emergency inhaler and spacer write to a local pharmacy, on headed notepaper (signed by the head teacher) requesting the purchase of a Ventolin / Salbutamol Metered Dose Inhaler and a Volumatic Spacer (with mask).

Access

• Immediate access to reliever inhaler is vital.

• Inhalers should not be stored in the school office or similar as this will not allow quick enough acce...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Section I: Legislation and guidance
• Section II: Pupils and parents
• Section III: Medical conditions and possible educational implications
• Section IV: Meeting the pupil’s medical and physical needs
• Section V: Access to the curriculum
• Section VI: Developing skills for learning
• References and further reading
• Suppliers