NURS103 Final: Chronic Illness Effect on Children

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Nursing
• Course: NURS103
• Professor: Lynne Ray

Document Summary

Children with chronic illnesses may frequently feel that they are different from healthy children, and are abnormal. Children may struggle with coming to terms of having chronic illnesses, be afraid of the impact of the illness, and/or feel anger towards having the chronic illness. Patients displayed higher scores for separation anxiety and higher likelihood of clinically important depressive symptoms. The rate of psychiatric disorder is up to 4 times higher in children with chronic physical illnesses compared to children that are physically healthy. The symptoms of the chronic illnesses, surgeries, and any medical equipment could impede with daily activities and the development of relationships with peers. Physical activity is important to chronically ill children as it improves cardiometabolic profiles, physical functions and controlling long-term disabilities. Children with chronic illnesses often have biomechanical or physiological differences from healthy children so that they must work at a higher energy level to do the same task.