Lupus, guide to live with a child patient
A father's mission begins long before his son comes into the world. Since you decide to start a family, you should start to insure a home safe and where you receive the best care. Once the child is born, the parents must face challenges that depending on the cases will be more or less harsh.
This is the case of parents of children with Lupus, an unusual disease but which affects many children all over the world. According to him Institut Ferran de Reumatología, in Spain There are about 1,000 children with this disease and it is estimated that 40 new juvenile cases appear in this country each year. Knowing more about this condition will help overcome this situation with the least possible incidence.
Symptoms of Childhood Lupus
Usually the symptoms of children with Lupus are similar to those of adults. Although in the case of minors they can be confuse With other diseases, the most common signs are abnormal tiredness, presence of anemia and severe pain in the limbs.
The joints of these patients often become inflamed and their skin reacts with eruptions to sun exposure. The most common and which should alert the parents are the presence of fever and inflammation of the lymph nodes and spleen. The 80% of children with Lupus have some type of nephritis at some time and have kidney diseases in the development of this disease.
School performance can also be a sign of alarm. If you notice the above symptoms and the child's grades go down, this situation may be due to the neurological effects of this disease in children. It should also be known that Lupus is a systematic and chronic condition, that is, other organs can be affected and there is no cure for it. Although there is a treatment to alleviate their symptoms and make the life of the child more bearable.
Treatment and day to day
Once you know what Lupus is, you have to know its treatment and how to make the day-to-day of the child easier. The medication of children with this disease is similar to that of adults. It is based on the administration of corticosteroids in the phases of greatest activity of this condition, in general with hydroxychloroquine. Many patients, especially those suffering from nephritis, also need to use immunosuppressive treatments.
This treatment must be "made to measure"for each patient, and in general, the child is expected to continue going to school normally, to interact with other children or young people, to ensure their physical, psychic and social growth remains normal and gradually, and to the best of their ability. , go assuming the responsibility of your life gaining more and more autonomy.
For this purpose you can also look for a rheumatologist pediatric that can indicate a treatment for the child in order to avoid that his muscles atrophy so that he can go out to play, always attending to the possible risks for the child. An early and aggressive treatment ensures the children a normal life, although the special needs of these people should not be forgotten.
The specialists also recommend the parents do not be overwhelmed for this situation, at least in front of the children. This can cause them to feel depressed when feeling like a burden. You have to make them see that they are normal and give them all the love they deserve.
Damián Montero
