causes of ill health in children

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Child Health- Task 2

Jodie Bloomer

There are many causes and types of illness in children. These include- accidents, disease, genetics, environmental, microbes, lifestyle, and abuse or neglect. Causative factors are commonly classed as factors caused before birth (antenatal), during birth (perinatal), and after birth (postnatal). Before birth, or antenatal factors include hereditary, and health and lifestyle issues of the mother, such as smoking, diet, infections, gas or chemical inhalation, substance use and the mother’s age. Hereditary factors are caused through genetics and are passed from one, or both of the parents to the child, or in some cases they can miss a generation so the parents may be healthy but the baby could be born with a disorder or medical condition with special needs. Examples of hereditary disorders are- Spina Bifida (a neural tube defect), Cystic Fibrosis (affects the respiratory and digestive systems), Sickle-cell Anaemia (an inherited blood disorder), and Down’s syndrome (a chromosomal disorder).

Health and lifestyle issues before birth can be causes of illness and Carolyn Meggitt states, “preconceptual care involves both partners cutting known risks before trying to conceive, so that they can create the best conditions for the embryo to grow and develop into a healthy baby.” (Meggitt, C. 2001. p.11). Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen a baby receives through the placenta and even if a mother stops smoking when she realises she is pregnant the oxygen amount may already have been decreased causing a risk to the unborn baby. Smoking can lead to learning difficulties in the baby, and there is a higher chance the baby will develop asthma or respiratory problems later on which could result in them missing school for hospital care. Smoking during birth also affects birth weight due to the release of nicotine and other substances in the body and could lead to learning difficulties as a result of a slower developmental rate.

Diet is important before birth as “prospective mothers are being encouraged to increase their intake of folic acid as this has been shown to help prevent the condition of Spina Bifida.”  (Tassoni, P. et Al. 2002. p.172). During pregnancy women should avoid certain foods (pate, raw meat, raw eggs, and soft cheese) as they can cause problems with pregnancy and miscarriage and can result in the baby having infections/disorders. These include Listeriosis and Toxoplasmosis, which can be “transmitted to the child and may cause blindness, hydrocephalus, or mental retardation.” (Bruce, T. et Al. 2005. p.384). Other infections during pregnancy that could result in a baby being born with an illness are Rubella, Syphilis, and Cytomegalovirus. Rubella can result in the child having sensory impairments (blind/deaf) and congenital heart disease. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease, which is transmitted through the placenta. “It will cause the baby to develop congenital syphilis” which is eventually fatal. (Meggitt, C. 2001. p.14). Gonorrhoea is another sexually transmitted disease, which if transmitted to the baby could cause blindness. Cytomegalovirus can lead to severe learning problems; delayed physical and motor skills; and problems with the liver. Gas or chemical inhalation can also be a cause of illness as some gases can increase the risk of birth defects.

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Substance use includes alcohol and drugs, both illegal and prescribed. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is caused by women drinking large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy. It can delay a child’s development and cause deformities and learning difficulties. Babies born with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome have “characteristic facial deformities, stunted growth and mental retardation.” (Bruce, T. et Al. 2005. p.295). Drugs (illegal and prescribed) can cause low birth weight and can delay development, cause deformities and birth defects, epilepsy which could result in a child having a lot of time off school, and could result in the baby being born addicted to drugs ...

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