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E u r o S c i C o n C o n f e r e n c e o n
PEDIATRICS
2017
Pediatrics 2017
Volume:3 Issue:4(Suppl)
Journal of Pediatric Care
ISSN 2471-805X
N o v e m b e r 1 3 - 1 4 , 2 0 1 7
L o n d o n , U K
Page 30
T
he progress made in pediatric care in the 20th century not
only saved many children from early death, but allowed
normal development of adolescence and adulthood. This
success has created a new problem – how to transition
children through adolescence and into adult life. Although
‘adolescent medicine’ has been a part of pediatric practice in
many hospitals, probably beginning in Boston, it was aimed
more at caring those who developed serious illnesses in the
difficult early adolescent years rather than transitioning those
with long term problems. It is not feasible to keep children
in a pediatric environment indefinitely; the pediatric hospital
would soon become an adult one. Programmes are being
developed in many specialties to carry on care into early
adult life. The question then is how to look after the patients
in adulthood. Where there is an adult equivalent, such as
diabetes or asthma, an adult service can gradually take over.
Where there is no adult equivalent such as in congenital heart
disease, spina bifida or exstrophy, specialist lifelong care
is needed. Early studies suggest that this achieves better
outcomes medically and socially than care in the generality
of health care.
Christopher.woodhouse@ucl.ac.ukThe importance of
transitional care
for the chronically
sick child
Christopher Woodhouse
University College, London
J Pediatr Care 2017, 3:4(Suppl)
DOI: 10.21767/2471-805X-C1-003