Care of People with Special Needs

Definition of Terms

2008-06-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

Anemia- where there is a lower than normal number of red blood cells in the blood or there is decrease in the amount of hemoglobin.

Aphasia- total or partial loss of the ability to speak correctly or understand and comprehend what is being said.

Stroke - When the blood flow to the brain is cut-off or impaired.

Shock - When the blood supply to the vital organ is inadequate.

Aneurysm - ballooning of the blood vessel

Signs- objective findings of the examiner or physician

Symptoms- What the patient feel

Thrombus -stationary clot or a blood clot that stay

Embolus- Traveling clot

Atrophy- decrease in the size or wasting away of a part of the body

Arteriosclerosis - hardening of the blood vessel

Atheroscelerosis- hardening of the blood vessel or when there is fatty deposits/fat deposits

Ulcer- a hole in the skin, stomach and mucous membrane in the blood vessel

Metastasis- spreading of the cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another

Abscess- localized connection of pus.

Prostheses

2008-05-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

Prosthesis: An artificial substitute or replacement of a part of the body such as a tooth, eye, a facial bone, the palate, a hip, a knee or another joint, the leg, an arm, etc. A prosthesis is designed for functional or cosmetic reasons or both.
A prosthesis may be removable, as in the case of most prosthetic legs or a prosthetic breast form used after mastectomy. A person who uses a removable prosthesis -- for example, an artificial hand -- may want to have more than one available for different types of tasks. Other types of prosthetic devices are permanently implanted, like an artificial hip, testicle or tooth.
With advances in the biomedical sciences, a few experimental prostheses have been integrated with body tissues, including the nervous system. These highly advanced devices can respond to commands from the central nervous system, more closely approximating normal movement and utility.

An auditory prosthesis is a device that substitutes for or enhances the ability to hear. It is more commonly called a hearing aid.
The word "prosthesis" comes via New Latin from the Greek "prostithenai" meaning "to add to, or to put in addition." The plural of prosthesis is prostheses.

Upper-Extremity Prostheses
The type of prosthesis used depends, in part, on the level of the amputation. Classification of upper-limb amputation is related to the anatomy of an amputated limb.

Digit or partial hand prosthesis
This type of prosthesis is used when an amputation is at a level below the wrist.

Hand prosthesis
This type of prosthesis may be used in cases of wrist disarticulation, that is, amputation at the wrist level, including the removal of the radius and ulna to styloid processes.

Transradial Prostheses
This type of prosthesis is used for below-elbow (transradial) amputations. The transradial prosthesis typically includes a terminal device, wrist unit, elbow unit, socket and harness. The selection of these components is based on a patient’s functional goals and capabilities.

Transhumeral Prostheses
This type of prosthesis is used for above-elbow (transhumeral) amputations.
Shoulder Disarticulation Prostheses
This type of prosthesis is used when an amputation is at the shoulder level

Goiter and its Treatment

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What is Goiter?
Goiter is a serious problem among the less developed countries today it was identified as the top health priority in the 90’s.”Goiter is the disease of the thyroid gland characterized by an enlargement of the gland visible externally as a swelling on the front neck. In simple goiter basal metabolic rate is somewhat lowered and in the toxic goiter it is elevated (Funk and Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia, 1979).
Goiter is the enlargement of the thyroid gland it causes a prominent swelling in front of the neck. The thyroid normally weights 0.5 to 0.9oz (15 to 25g) however, goitrous thyroid glands can grow to more than 2lbs (1,000g). A large goiter may interface with breathing and swallowing. Endomic goiter is the most common due to lack of iodine in the body, which causes reduction in thyroid hormone synthesis. As a result, there is an increase in secretion of the interior pituary hormone thyrotropin. Thyrotropin not only stimulates thyroid hormone production but also causes an increases size and number of cells in the thyroid. Advances cases are treated with thyroid hormone or with surgical removal of the thyroid if it obstructs breathing (www.Google.com, 2008).

What is the History of Goiter?
Paracelsus (born Philippus Aureolus Theophastus Bombastus Von Hohshien) (1493-1541) was the first to describe the connection between goiter and the consumption of minerals, specifically lead in drinking water. According to Paracelsus goiter is previously common in many areas that were deficient in iodine in the soil. For example, in the English Midlands, the condition was known as Derby Shire Neck. In the U.S goiter was found in great lakes, Midwest and Intermountain regions. The condition now is practically absent in affluent nation where tablesalt is supplemented with iodine. However, it is still prevalent in India, Central Asia and Central Africa (www.Google.com, 2008).

What are the Causes of Goiter?
Iodine deficiency disorder causes goiter and decreases the production of hormone cited to growth and developed. People with iodine deficiency disorder can grow apathetic, mentally retarded and incapable of normal movement, speech or hearing. Iodine deficiency disorder in pregnant women can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and mental retardation of infants (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2000).
Some other causes of goiter are Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves disease, side effects of pharmacological therapy, thyroid cancer and iodine deficiency disorder (www.Answer.com, 2008).

How to Treat or Manage Goiter?
The treatment for goiter may not be necessary if the goiter is small. Enlargement of the thyroid gland can be treated and this treatment often leads to reduce the size of the goiter. Removal of goiter may be necessary if it causes difficulty in breathing or swallowing. Today, there is now an alternative way to reduce the size of large goiter. Radioiodine therapy even with or without the pre-injection of a synthetic thyroid-stimulating hormone it can relieve difficulty in breathing or swallowing and it can reduce the size of the goiter by 30-65%(American Journal of Nursing, 2002).
To treat goiter all that one needed is an adequate supply of iodine in the food that one eats each day. This will prevent the thyroid to enlarge.

How is Goiter Prevented?
According to Anderson, Clifford (1966) goiter is one disease that can be prevented. Iodized salt is one excellent way to prevent goiter. It’s necessary to remove the enlarge gland to prevent pressure within the neck. Surgery must be considered if goiter is suspected for cosmetic reasons most surgeons will not hesitate to remove the ugly tumor in the neck.
Goiter is cause by iodine deficiency disorder. In addition to goiter iodine toxicity produces ulcers on the skin. This condition has been called “kelp acne” because of its association with eating kelp, an ocean plant which contains of high levels of iodine. Iodine deficiency toxicity occurs in Japan, where large amount of seaweed are consumed. Iron toxicity is not uncommon, because of the wide distribution of iron pills (Funk and Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia, 1979)
To prevent goiter many people are using iodized salt because it is affordable and effective. Surgery sometimes can cause side-effects and very expensive. But iodized salt cannot be stored in the body for a long period of time. Take amounts regularly is needed to reduce the size of goiter. Iodized salt is rich in iodine and it can reduce the size of goiter if it takes regularly.

Conclusion
Therefore, I conclude that goiter is the disease of the thyroid gland characterized by an enlargement of the gland visible externally as the swelling in front of the neck. The most common causes of goiter are the lack of iodine in the body because it decreases the production of hormone cited to growth and development. In order to treat goiter iodized salt is the best way because iodized salt is rich in iron and affordable unlike the surgery. One must take iodized salt regularly because iodized salt cannot be stored in our body for a long period of time. Radioiodine is another way to treat goiter because with or without the pre-injection of the thyroid-stimulating hormone it can relieve obstruction and reduce the size of the goiter.

Massage

2008-05-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

Massage: Is define as systematic manipulations of the soft tissue of the body

Indications:

1. Chronic Injury - more than 48 hours
2. Analgesic -decrease pain
3. Relaxation
4. Decrease Adhesion
5. Increase circulation
6. Sedation

Contraindication:
1. If done over malignancies
2. If done over open wounds
3. Circulatory Problems
4. If done over infected tissues
5. Inappropriate application
6. Skin disease
7. Recent unhealed scars
8. Adjacent to recent fracture sites
9. Acutely inflamed tissue
10 Fever
11. After eating
12. Abdominal hernia
13. Pregnancy
14. Psychologically unstable patients
15. Hypertensive patients
16. If done for no reason at all

Limitations:
1. Can not increase strength
2. Not a substitute to active exercise
3. Tends to develop addiction

Basic Principles of Massage Treatment:
1. Patient must be in a relaxed and comfortable position(properly position and drape the patient)
2. Caregiver must be able to complete the technique without shifting position
3. Caregiver must have clean hands, short nails and no areas of broken skin .It is also necessary to remove jewelries (rings and bracelets).
4. The use of lubricants may facilitate ease of techniques (except for friction massage)
5. Skill of the practitioner is related more to his ability to distribute even pressure throughout the hands rather the strength alone.

Components of Massage

1. Direction of motion - usually centripetal or towards the heart
2. Pressure applied - light to relax, deep stimulate blood flow.
3. Rhythm of movement
4. Media
a. Powder ex.
b. Oil ex.
c. Water based lotion ex. Lanolin
d. Soap and water
5. Position of the patient and caregiver - observe proper body mechanics and positioning
6. Duration and frequency of movement- total treatment time should not exceeed 50 minutes. Above 50 minutes will produce tissue damage.

What is Special Needs

2008-05-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

To be more sensitive to the special needs of disable or handicap patients or special children trying to develop their potential,functional as living individuals.