In the state of South Australia, infants with myelodysplasia have been treated by early intervention since 1963, and the majority have survived. Many are now adults, leading active lives despite having severe disabilities. A pilot study confirmed that this population has a high incidence of preventable ill health because of recurrent urinary infections, renal damage, and pressure ulcers. Many of these complications can be prevented by an outreach nursing service aimed at providing education in self-care, counseling, advocacy, and other appropriate nursing interventions, thus allowing clients to avoid hospitalization and maintain their independence. The study also showed that many clients were unaware of important social benefits, the knowledge of which should promote their financial independence. The outreach nursing service is an essential part of an integrated long-term support program for adults with myelodysplasia and other forms of congenital spinal paralysis.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Head injuries in infants and children: measures to reduce mortality and morbidity in road accidents.

In the 6-year period from 1983 to 1988, 12 infants (less than 24 months of age) and 103 children (2 to 14 years of age) were killed in road crashes in South Australia. This represents an annual incidence of 6.4 deaths per 100,000 children at risk. At least 4 other children were killed in off-road vehicle-related accidents. Of these deaths, approximately half were car passengers, one third pedestrians, and one sixth pedal cyclists. Most of these infants and children died at the accident site or soon after, but 26 of them survived long enough to be admitted to hospitals with neurosurgical units and an audit of these patients suggests that there were at least 3 preventable deaths. However, autopsies of 78 patients show that the great majority of these deaths resulted from devastating brain and/or trunk visceral injuries. Better emergency care and the use of neurosurgical retrieval teams may save some lives. But more lives might be saved by the use of appropriate restraints for infants and children in cars, by reducing the exposure of child pedestrians and cyclists to road traffic, and by mandatory use of helmets by child cyclists. Off-road vehicular accidents are not as a rule included in road crash statistics; the practice of giving small motorcycles to young children has created a new category of vehicular accidents sometimes causing severe head injury.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hospice or palliative care?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Hospice Care↗