Students with Special Health Care Needs - Definitions & Etiologies



It has been said that most educators will experience teaching a child with special health care needs at least once in their career. These needs are classified as diseases and/or conditions that affect the life and daily function of an afflicted individual. This classification encompasses a wide range of diagnoses and medical needs that are the result of any number of genetic or environmental triggers.
It is important to note that there are crucial differences between the various illnesses. They can be classified as follows:

 

It is difficult to note the prevalence of students with special health care needs in the Canadian classroom as the diversity of conditions can frequently lead to overlapping diagnoses and descriptors. We can say that the number of students in this category is increasing; however due to inadequate data gathering and co-occurring conditions it is difficult to know exact numbers. We do know that in Canada allergies and asthma are the most prevalent of special health care needs.

Special Health Care Needs  can be defined under the following sub-categories:

 

 

There are a great number of conditions that fall under one or more of the listed sub-categories. As such we will be looking only at 6 specific conditions that we may come across in our day to day interactions in the classroom.

ALLERGIES 

 

 
 Defined as an altered reaction the term allergies is used interchangeably with hypersensitivity referring to an abnormal reaction to contact with a substance that would not normally cause a reaction in other persons.

Allergies are the most common chronic disease in pediatrics (Winzer, 2008. p. 406). Studies show that 1 in every 5 students suffers from a major allergy.       

 

While food sensitivities may be mistaken for allergies, it is important to note that true allergies will affect the immune system and may cause severe and life-threatening reactions. These true allergies occur in 3-8% of children and of these 90% are caused by wheat/gluten, eggs, milk, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, peanuts and soybeans.



 

 

Arthritis 

 

 



 

The term 'arthritis' describes many conditions that affect joints, the tissue surrounding joints, and other connective tissue. Other complications include eye and respiratory infections, enlarged spleen and inflammation of the tissue covering the heart. Juvenile – refers to arthritis occurring in children under 16.

 

1 in 1000 children in Canada are diagnosed with juvenile arthritis; there are over 6,000 children living with juvenile arthritis in Canada.

The causes are unknown and there is no cure.

  

Asthma

 

Definition

“...a chronic lung condition characterized by inflammation, obstruction, and increased sensitivity in the airways.” (Winzer)

Etiology 

Common Symptoms of an asthmatic episode include:

• wheezing
• trouble breathing
• ongoing coughing
• tight feeling in the chest
• sneezing
• dark under eyes
• interrupted speech

Common Symptoms of a severe asthmatic attack include:

• blue discolouration in lips and fingernails
• unresponsive
• unable to drink
• extreme lethargy

 

 

 



 

 

Prevalence

·         most common childhood condition

·         2/3 of children have mild asthma, 1/3 have moderate- severe cases

·         Each year about 20 children and 500 adults pass away from complications related to asthma

·         Young boys are twice as likely as girls to have asthma

·         During their teens many individuals improve or go into remission

 

Cancer

 

 

Defined as the abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in Canadians under 20 years of age.  

 

 

 

 

 The most common cancers found in children are of the blood, bone, brain, nervous system, and kidney. (Winzer, 2008. p.403) With Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) being the most prominent of diagnosed childhood cancers with 1/3 of all childhood cancers falling under this diagnosis. 2/3 of all deaths from childhood cancer are as a result of ALL.  With modern day advances in medical technology 75% of children diagnosed with cancer have a 5 years or better prognosis and 70% of children diagnosed with ALL can expect to enjoy a long-term survival or cure. Children diagnosed with Willms tumours (a kidney cancer) have an expected survival rate of 90%; and children with brain tumours are now reaching a 50% survival rate.

 

Signs of childhood ALL include fever and bruising.

These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by childhood ALL:

• Fever.
• Easy bruising or bleeding.
• Petechiae (flat, pinpoint, dark-red spots under the skin caused by bleeding).
• Bone or joint pain.
• Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.
• Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs.
• Weakness, feeling tired, or looking pale.
• Loss of appetite

 

 

 

Diabetes

 

 

 

Definition A disease in which the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. This leads to high levels of glucose in the blood, which can damage organs, blood vessels and nerves. (http://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/what/dictionary/) Diabetes is divided into two categories, type one and type two.

 

 

 

Type 1

• Not enough insulin created in pancreas to properly metabolize sugar

• Regular insulin injections required to prevent glucose from building up in the blood stream and urine

 

 

 

Type 2

• Inefficient use of insulin produced, or not enough

• Usually managed through a balanced diet and activity

• May require medication or insulin

It is important for people with diabetes to monitor their level of insulin, exercise regularly, and eat appropriately to maintain a healthy level of blood sugar. If the balance is disrupted and the blood sugar is too high or low an individual may experience a diabetic emergency. (hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia)

 Etiology

Type 1

May appear after specific virus

Often takes a few years to appear

Pancreas loses ability to produce insulin for healthy metabolism

 

Type 2

Susceptibility linked to obesity and genetics

Linked to obesity

Susceptibility may be genetically transmitted

Occurring more often in Canadian children and teens

 

Prevalence

• increasingly high incidence condition in Canada
• 6.7 cases per 1000 Canadians (2001-2002)
• 1 case in every 600 Canadian children under age 10
• type 1 appears early in life (6mos.- 25yrs.)

 

http://www.diabetes.ca/

 

 

Pediatric AIDS 

 

 



AIDS represents an advanced stage of HIV infection. AIDS is characterized by severely diminished immune system function, where the body is highly vulnerable to infections and cancers that are typically fought off by a healthy immune system.

40 million of people around the world living with HIV worldwide

2 million are children under 15 years of age worldwide(UNISEF, 2005)

In Canada in 2011, there were approximately 71,300 (range: 58,600 to 84,000) people living with HIV (including AIDS). The majority are in Ontario. (from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/survreport/2012/dec/index-eng.php)



The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV is a virus that can be transmitted during sexual intercourse, from mother to fetus, childbirth, breastfeeding, and through other forms of exposure to bodily fluids that carry the virus. When the virus enters the body, it injects itself into vital immune cells called CD4 cells, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness that leaves people vulnerable to infections.  Over a period of years, HIV can weaken the body's immune system to the point where it no longer can fight usually harmless bacterial and viral infections, parasites, fungi, and cancers. These diseases are called "opportunistic infections," and their appearance for a person living with HIV may lead to the onset of AIDS, which is the last stage of the HIV infection. Advanced opportunistic infections can lead to death.

From http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/health-sante/disease-maladie/hiv-vih-eng.php

And from http://www.pedaids.org/pages/about-pediatric-aids

 

by: Kim Fioravanti, Christine Greatorex & Dina Mahmutova