Other Health Impairments #1
Asthma, Sickle Cell Anemia, Tourette Syndrome, Leukemia
Asthma
Definition
Asthma is a chronic disease that inflames and narrows the airways of the lungs
Causes
 The exact cause of asthma is unknown.
 Research has shown that a combination of genetics and the environment in which
one lives are possible causes.
 Exposure to different substances can trigger symptoms of asthma. Triggers differ
from person to person and include cold air, physical activity, allergic reactions to
food, airborne allergens, medications, stress, and respiratory infections.
Symptoms
 When the breathing passages of the lungs become irritated or infected, an asthma
attack is triggered.
 An asthma attack can develop quickly or can take hours or days to develop.
 Wheezing, breathlessness, coughing, difficulty speaking, and tightness in the
chest are all symptoms of an asthma attack.
Treatment
 Prevention is the best treatment. One should know his or her asthma triggers and
avoid them.
 Allergy medications often help treat asthma
 Quick relief inhalers quickly open swollen airways that are constricted due to
inflammation
 Long-term control medications keep asthma under control on a daily basis and
include: inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta agonists,
and combination inhalers.
 One should create an asthma action plan with his doctor to plan when to take
medications, when to increase doses, and list triggers, and track symptoms.
Teaching Strategies
 About 12% of children have asthma meaning that about 3 children in each class
will have asthma.
 Teachers should help the student avoid or control asthma triggers. For example,
strong smells such as chemical sprays and chalk dust should be avoided. Physical
activity should be controlled.
 Know the student's asthma management plan
 Adjust schedules for students whose asthma is worsened by pollen or cold air. A
midday indoor PE class will allow more participation
 Get a copy of student's asthma plan
 Teach asthma awareness and peer senstitivity
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Ensure convenient access to asthma needs
Modify PE activities to match current asthma status
Include adequate warm ups and cool downs to lessen exercise induced asthma
Make exercise modifications as necessary
Be able to recognize symptoms and take appropriate actions
Resources
 www.webmd.com/asthma/default.htm
Sickle Cell Anemia
Definition
 Sickle Cell Anemia is the most common form sickle cell disease, which changes
normal red blood cells into abnormal crescent shaped moons.
 Normal red blood cells are able to take oxygen throughout the body, but sickle
cells can get stuck and block oxygen from moving throughout the body properly
harming organs, muscles, and bones.
Cause
 Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic disease. More specifically, it is an autosomal
recessive disease, which means that it must be inherited from both parents for one
to have the disease.
 A person with sickle cell disease must inherit one defective hemoglobin S gene
from each parent.
Symptoms
 The most common symptoms of sickle cell disease are pain in the hands or feet,
abdomen, back and chest. These symptoms can last from hours to days.
 Most people with sickle cell disease experience anemia. Symptoms of anemia
include weakness, fatigue, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), and
shortness of breath especially during activity.
Treatment
 Sickle Cell Anemia has no cure, but treatments help to relieve symptoms. The
goal of treatment is to relieve pain, prevent infections, organ damage, and
strokes.
 Children with sickle cell anemia need standard immunizations. Children younger
than five must take a daily antibiotic to prevent infection.
 Pain medication can be given at home or in the hospital depending on the severity
of pain.
 Keeping warm and getting plenty of rest help to treat the disease.
 Blood transfusions reduce the risk of SCA and bone marrow transplants are still
experimental.
 Complications from sickle cell disease are sometimes treated by surgery.
Removing the spleen prevents too many red blood cells getting trapped in the
spleen. Gallbladder removal prevents gallstone problems. Hip replacements
occur when the tissue in the hip breaks down due to not getting enough blood.
Teaching Strategies
 Collaborate with parents and guidance consuler to become familiar with the
child's specific needs.
 Allow students with sickle cell anemia to use water fountain and bathroom as
needed. Not drinking enough raises chance of SC crisis
 Know the signs and symptoms of SCA, especially those requiring urgent
emergency care.
 Be sure student drinks plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercise.
 Give regular rest breaks during exercise.
 Keep student warm as cold air or water can trigger pain. Provide alternate
activity for swimming when possible.
Resources
 www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tc/sickle-cell-disease-topic-overview
 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Tourette’s Syndrom (TS)
Definition
 TS is a neurological disorder that is characterized by involuntary, repetitive
movements and vocalizations called tics.
Cause
 There is no known exact cause for TS. TS is most likely caused by a combination
of genetic and environmental factors.
 Genetics and brain abnormalities are thought to be a cause for TS.
Symptoms
 Tics are sudden and brief movements or sounds that are the main symptoms of
TS. They vary in severity and frequency.
 Simple tics are sudden, brief, and repetitive. They involve a limited number of
muscle groups.
 Motor Examples: eye blinking, shoulder shrugging
 Vocal Examples: yelling, barking
 Complex tics are very distinct and coordinated movement patterns which involve
several muscle groups.
 Motor Examples: Obscene gestures, arm flapping
 Vocal Examples: Using expletives, repeating words and phrases.
Treatment
 There is no cure for TS. Treatment has the purpose of helping control tics that
interfere with functioning in everyday life.
 Medications: Drugs that deplete dopamine in the brain, Botox injections,
stimulant medications, Central adrenergic inhibitors, antidepressants.
 Therapies: Psychotherapies and deep brain stimulations
Teaching Strategies
 Provide opportunities for student to take a break and relax as that reduces tics
 Work with the class to help them understand TS
 Change tasks frequently
 Prevent safety issues for students with movement tics by locating them
strategically.
 Use close proximity when giving instructions.
 Minimize distractions.
Resources
 www.tsa-usa.org
Leukemia
Definition
 Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells that starts in the bone marrow where blood
cells are made.
Causes
 Although there is not a known cause for leukemia, risk factors include tobacco
use, radiation exposure, chemical exposure. M
 ost people who are diagnosed with the disease do not have any of the risk factors.
Most types of leukemia do not appear to be genetic.
Symptoms
 Fevers
 Night Sweats
 Weakness and fatigue
 Headaches
 Bruising of the skin
 Bleeding gums and rectum
 Bone and joint pain
 Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, groin
 Decreased appetite and weightless
Treatment
 Chemotherapy is the most popular form of treatment and uses chemicals to kill
leukemia cells.
 Biological Therapy: Helps immune system recognize and attack leukemia cells.
 Radiation Therapy: Uses radiation to damage and stop the growth of leukemia
cells.
 Stem cell transplant: Replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow
Teaching Strategies
 Partner with the family of the student to gain knowledge on the student's
condition.
 Promote student participation
 Allow student to take frequent breaks as weakness and fatigue are a symptom
 Modify activities for the student with leukemia so he or she can participate safely.
Resources
 www.lls.org
 http://cancer.gov/types/leukemia