A daily body hygiene of the child will be done (washing, wiping with a wet sponge, body hygiene wipes, etc.). The clothes will be clean, also the bed linen, the bedside table, the floor. The nails will be cut once a week, being careful not to cause injuries.
The person accompanying the child will pay attention to personal hygiene, frequent hand washing, washing food (fruit) and dishes.
Salon visits will be limited, especially for people with respiratory infections. Visitors will not sit on the patient’s bed. During the periods when the analyzes are low (leukocytes, platelets) the child will wear a surgical mask, will be isolated from other children as much as possible, will be trained in non-aggressive games (to avoid hitting, cutting).
How is oral/dental hygiene done?
- During radiotherapy;
- During periods when blood test values are low;
- When the child suffers from various conditions in the oral area (canker sores, burns, etc.);
Mucous membranes (mouth, region around the anus, genitals) are affected by oncological treatment (chemotherapy and radiation). At these levels, irritations, sometimes serious and extensive ulcerations can occur, which are easily superinfected.
Prevention and treatment follow the following steps:
- Respecting a rigorous hygiene;
- Daily washing with soap and water of the perianal region and genitals;
- Brushing the teeth after every meal,
- Gargle with mouthwash or chamomile tea;
- Dental treatment in the periods when this is possible (between treatments or before the institution of radiotherapy if the mouth is included in the irradiation field);
- Avoid irritating foods, condiments; the patient must drink a sufficient amount of liquid so that the mucous membrane of the mouth is moist;
- Disinfectants of the mouth and throat will be used, which may also contain local anesthetics (e.g. Pharyngiosept, Septolele, Trachisan, Tantum verde, etc.);
- During radiotherapy do not use creams or solutions containing iodine (e.g. Betadine) on the irradiated area.
Outsourcing
Upon discharge, the doctor issues a document that shows the patient’s condition, the results of the investigations, the evolution of the disease and the treatment received. Finally, the indications for discharge regarding the diet, possible treatment at home or ambulatory investigations, the date of return to treatment are specified. A copy of the exit ticket must go to the family doctor with whom constant contact will be maintained and who must be periodically informed about the patient’s progress. The family doctor is the first person requested in case of incidents occurring at home.
Medical letters
The medical letters include the description of the events that brought the child to the hospital and those that took place during the hospitalization. The medical letter ends with recommendations for care and treatment at home. These will be made known to the parents and strictly respected. A copy of the medical letter must go to the family doctor. It is very important to collaborate with the family doctor who must know the patient’s condition, the recommendations for home treatment. You should know that between periods of hospitalization the child may have complications of the treatment, of the disease or conditions not related to the oncological disease. All of these require an emergency presentation to the family doctor who decides to what extent the problem can be solved at home or if readmission to the hospital is necessary.