Majda Oštir
Služba za pljučne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Slovenija

Metka Gajšek Zver
Klinični oddelek za alergologijo, revmatologijo in klinično imunologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Tadeja Palčič
Klinični oddelek za otroško onkologijo in hematologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Mihaela Kores
Klinični oddelek za otroško onkologijo in hematologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Anamarija Meglič
Klinični oddelek za nefrologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Palliative care in pediatrics is a specialized palliative care. Identifying factors in different periods of children, from neonatal to adolescence, is key in choosing an approach and a plan for further treatment. It is best to include children and adolescents with progressive incurable diseases as early as possible, as this improves the quality of life of the entire family. Only a multidisciplinary approach of interconnected experts from different levels of healthcare allows the achievement of the goals of palliative treatment. An individual advanced treatment plan is based on identifying the needs of the child and the family. One of the important areas is identified in anticipating the presence of symptoms such as pain, restlessness, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, and others, as these strongly affect the quality of life of a sick child in his family. When the pain is not satisfactorily controlled and when the patient can no longer take the drug by mouth due to heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and impaired consciousness, the drug is administered subcutaneously in the form of a subcutaneous infusion, usually via an elastomeric pump.

Key words: child, family, palliative care, symptoms, subcutaneous drug infusion