| Pressure ulcers | 772.000000000000 | Pressure ulcers | Pressure ulcers | P | English | Dermatology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Skin | Skin | Conditions and diseases | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2013-08-26T04:00:00Z | | | | | | 6.00000000000000 | 75.6000000000000 | 638.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Conditions | Health A-Z | <p>Learn about pressure ulcers, who is at risk and how to prevent them.</p> | <h2>What are pressure ulcers?</h2><p>Pressure ulcers are sores that are a result of constant pressure on your child's skin. Pressure can cause damage many layers of skin. Pressure ulcers are also known as bedsores or pressure sores.</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul>
<li>Pressure ulcers can damage many layers of skin.</li>
<li>Be gentle when giving your child a bath.</li>
<li>Change your child's position often, unless your child's doctor has told you not to.</li>
<li>Make sure your child is resting on a comfortable surface (for example wheelchair seat pad or mattress).</li>
</ul> | | | <h2>Cause of pressure ulcers</h2><p>Pressure ulcers occur when there is ongoing compression of the soft tissue between bony parts of the body and an external surface. They usually occur on the skin that overlies the heels, the back of the head and the tail bone. They can also occur on the ears, elbows, spine and shoulder blades.</p>
<figure class="asset-c-100"><span class="asset-image-title">Pressure ulcer cause</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_pressure_ulcer_EN.jpg" alt="Bone and compressed skin and muscle layers between an arrow showing weight of body and arrows showing pressure from mattress" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">Constant pressure compresses skin layers, which can cut off blood flow. This can damage the skin layers causing a pressure ulcer.</figcaption> </figure>
<p>Pressure ulcers can vary in severity. In the more mild form, the skin is still intact and there is redness of the area. In the more severe forms, the ulcer penetrates through the skin and you are able to see exposed fat, bone, tendon or muscle underneath.</p><h2>Who is at risk?</h2><p>The risk factors for developing pressure ulcers include:</p><ul><li>decreased mobility (often patients who are restricted to a bed or wheelchair)</li><li>moisture left on the skin from sweating or unclean diapers</li><li>continuous pressure from an external device such as a splint or oxygen mask, or a piece of tubing or equipment your child may be lying on such as an oxygen tube or IV (intravenous) tube</li><li>poor nutrition does not cause pressure ulcers but lack of nutrition can put someone at higher risk of developing pressure ulcers</li></ul>
<figure class="asset-c-100">
<span class="asset-image-title">Pressure ulcer caused by external device</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_pressure_ulcer_tubing_EN.jpg" alt="Arrows showing impact of pressures on bone, skin and muscle layers from weight of the body and from lying on external device" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">Constant pressure from lying on an external device like tubing can also compress skin layers causing a pressure ulcer.</figcaption> </figure> | | | | <h2>Complications from pressure ulcers</h2>
<p>If pressure ulcers are left unnoticed or untreated, then they can result in complications such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>pain</li>
<li>infection</li>
</ul> | | <h2>Preventing pressure ulcers</h2>
<p>The following tips will help prevent pressure ulcers from developing:</p>
<h3>Protect skin and promote good skin care</h3>
<ul>
<li>Change your child's position often throughout the day and night, unless your child's doctor tells you not to. While in the hospital, the nurse will frequently change your child's position.</li>
<li>Make sure your child is not lying on a tube or piece of equipment for long periods of time.</li>
<li>Check your child's skin for redness or sores at bath time, when changing their position, or when moving them from one surface to another (for example from the bed to the wheelchair).</li>
<li>Make sure your child is resting on a comfortable surface such as a wheelchair seat pad or mattress.</li>
<li>Be gentle when giving your child a bath.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Protect skin from excessive moisture</h3>
<ul>
<li>Keep your child's skin dry. Quickly clean up moisture from body fluids such as sweat and urine.</li>
<li>Be gentle when cleaning your child's skin. Use a soft cloth and a soft touch.</li>
</ul> | <h2>Questions to ask your child's doctor or medical team</h2>
<p>If you are concerned about your child's skin, consider asking the following questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Is my child's illness affecting their skin?</li>
<li>Are there protective barrier creams that might help?</li>
<li>Is there anything that can be used to prevent moisture from damaging the skin?</li>
<li>Is my child on the best possible surface to prevent skin breakdown (for example wheelchair seat pad or mattress)?</li>
<li>Could advice from a dietitian on how to eat well help my child's skin condition?</li>
</ul>
<p>If you are not in the hospital, consider taking a photograph of the area so that you can show your doctor or nurse.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/pressure_ulcers.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/pressure_ulcers.jpg | | | | | | | Pressure ulcers | | False | | | | | | | | |
