Diseases: Down's, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Anxiety Disorder, and ADHD

School Nursing 5
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School Nursing 5
Part A
Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a condition in which a child is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21 (Akhtar & Bokhari, 2021). As a result of this extra chromosome, the body and brain of the child develop differently, resulting in physical and mental challenges. Down syndrome is the most common genetic chromosomal disorder in the United States (US). The incidence of Down syndrome is 1 in every 700 babies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021a). According to Akhtar and Bokhari (2021), the incidence of Down syndrome increases with the mother's age, and the occurrence is higher at the time of conception. However, more than 50% of these fetuses do not survive the pregnancy term. The symptoms of Down syndrome include intellectual disabilities, congenital heart defects, developmental disabilities, distinctive facial features, gastrointestinal abnormalities, and neurological disorders (Akhtar & Bokhari, 2021). Other issues include musculoskeletal disorders, visual abnormalities, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) problems.
School nurses need to develop individualized care for students with Down syndrome because, as the CDC (2021a) reveals, people with Down syndrome may look and act the same. Still, they have different abilities and may thus require different levels of care. First, the nurse needs to understand the health needs of students with Down syndrome and know that these needs may differ. Meeting them is crucial to the success of the student. Second, the nurses need to know that such students may have a difficult time in language and speech development, information processing, motor skills, as well as hearing and vision (Akhtar & Bokhari, 2021). With this understanding, the nurse can develop healthcare plans for individual students to help address the challenges experienced by students with Down syndrome. The school nurse should also teach the school staff about the basics of Down syndrome to help them understand the health and educational needs of students with Down syndrome. While the students with Down syndrome have different levels of learning/intellectual disability, they are included in regular classes (CDC, 2021a). However, some might require individualized education to give them extra attention. Inclusion and/or exclusion from regular classes might raise legal issues and should be approached carefully based on existing laws and the health of the child. To manage the condition, students may need regular exercise as well as physical, speech, and language therapy (Akhtar & Bokhari, 2021). I would recommend the various support groups for parents within the school area. For instance, Down Syndrome Parent Support Group and Down Syndrome Amongst Us are some of the groups that raise awareness and help children with Down syndrome and their families manage the condition.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Exposure to alcohol during pregnancy causes a series of developmental and physical defects to a child, and these defects are classified under Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is one of the most common FASD. According to Vorgias and Bernstein (2021), prenatal exposure to alcohol damages the central nervous system, and these damages are irreversible. Specifically, the damage to the CNS has been linked to intellectual disabilities, and it causes learning as well as behavioral issues. Other issues associated with CNS system deficit include irritability, hyperactivity, poor social and problem-solving skills, limited impulse control, and inattention. In addition, FAS is associated with pre and/or postnatal physical growth retardation and distinctive facial features such as a smooth philtrum, thin vermillion border, and small eyes (Vorgias & Bernstein, 2021). In the US, the CDC (2021b) estimates that for every 1,000 live births, 0.2 to 1.5 infants have FAS. In some US communities, the incidence of FAS is as high as 6 to 9 children out of 1,000. However, estimating the incidence of FAS as well as other FASDs is usually a challenge, and May et al. (2018) indicate that about 80% of children with FASD are undiagnosed.
Students with FAS need individualized care, so school nurses need to develop an individualized health plan. School nurses need to understand FAS basics and how to help students with FAS navigate through their academic work. School nurses need to know that students with FAS may have difficulty interacting with their peers, may experience emotional and behavioral challenges, and may experience learning disabilities. For this reason, certain accommodations may need to be given to the student. They include individualized education plans as well as in-school services (Albrecht et al., 2019). Teachers and other school staff also need to be educated on FAS basics to ensure they understand students with FAS and help them excel in school. Even though there is no cure for FAS, students with FAS might need medications to manage their condition depending on the symptoms/disabilities present. For example, students with mood dysregulation and impulsivity might need serotonin reuptake inhibitors and psychostimulant drugs, respectively (Albrecht et al., 2019). Some students might also need physical and individual therapy sessions to help manage the condition. Legal issues can arise from failure to create an i...