[Treatment of non-painful symptoms in terminally ill children].
The care of children at the end of life is gradually improving. Nevertheless, more than half suffer from intractable symptoms before dying. Although pain has been the subject of clinical research, evidence-based data are almost completely lacking for other symptoms, highlighting the need for clinical research in palliative care. We review the available evidence on fatigue, anorexia, dyspnea, respiratory secretions, cough, constipation, mouth dryness, urinary obstruction, terminal convulsions and gasping. When evidence is lacking, we offer our empiric approach. Short duration benzodiazepines have become an important component of treatment that should remain simple, while providing the dying child the comfort needed to experience the highest quality relationships with those around him.
Duval
M
M
Service d'hémato-oncologie pédiatrique, hôpital Sainte-Justine, 3175, chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3T 1C5. michel.duval@umontreal.ca
Wood
C
C
D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013727:Terminal Care; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
D001569:Benzodiazepines