Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, and Congenital Heart Disease

Characterized by excessive growth and division of abnormal cells; can persist asymptomatically or advance rapidly.
Commonly affects organs such as the brain, lungs, skin, stomach, liver, and colon.
Treatment approaches based on cancer location and severity include radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery.
Chemotherapy can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, and immune system compromise.
Use of long-term vascular access for medication administration is common; assess for patient comfort and resuscitation preferences.

Non-progressive neurologic disorder arising from brain injury during development, birth, or early childhood.
Symptoms include muscle function impairment, which may range from mild to severe paralysis.
Associated with seizures, hearing impairments, and various neurological disorders.
Requires careful handling during patient transport due to movement challenges.

Involves heart or great vessel abnormalities present at birth; severity ranges from mild to life-threatening.
Significant physiologic stressors can complicate management, particularly under stress conditions.
Family members often provide essential medical history and present health insights.

Genetic disorder causing excessive mucus production, affecting lungs and digestive systems.
Manifests in infancy with gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory distress, or failure to thrive.
Risk of multiple complications such as pneumonia, malnutrition, or infertility.
Diagnosis typically requires specific testing unavailable prehospital; alert receiving facilities when suspected.

An incurable degenerative disorder affecting the central nervous system, often occurring in younger women.
Symptoms include coordination issues, muscle weakness, fatigue, and cognitive impairments.
Treatments focus on supportive measures; disease management involves medication and physical therapy.

Group of genetic diseases leading to progressive muscle degeneration, often noticeable in childhood.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common type, primarily affecting boys with distinct muscle and cardiac issues.
EMS care is primarily supportive, emphasizing careful positioning and ventilation assistance if needed.

Autoimmune disorder impacting neuromuscular transmission, leading to muscle weakness.
Primarily affects younger women and older men, with ocular types limited to eye muscles.
Myasthenic crisis can result in respiratory failure; EMS care often involves airway protection and ventilatory support.

Birth defect linked to neural tube development, resulting in spinal cord exposure.
Often diagnosed via prenatal ultrasound; requires immediate postnatal care to cover openings and prevent hypothermia.
Associated challenges may include urinary dysfunction and orthopedic issues.

Viral infection that can lead to paralysis; aggressive vaccination has reduced cases significantly.
Initial symptoms resemble common viral infections, with subsequent muscle weakness possible.
Survivors risk post-polio syndrome with renewed symptoms of weakness and respiratory complications.

Can lead to numerous complications affecting cognition, movement, and communication.
Patient assessment may be complicated by the range of impairments; caregiver assistance is often necessary.
Cooperation from patients may be limited due to injury, requiring extended interaction and history gathering.

Abnormal cell growth can be asymptomatic or advance rapidly; common in organs like the brain, lungs, skin, stomach, liver, and colon.
Treatment depends on the cancer's location and severity, utilizing radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery.
Chemotherapy side effects include nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, and compromised immune function.
Long-term vascular access for medication is standard; comfort and resuscitation preferences should be assessed.

Non-progressive neurological disorder caused by brain injury during development, birth, or early childhood.
Symptoms feature muscle function impairment, varying from mild weakness to severe paralysis.
Potential complications include seizures, hearing issues, and other neurological disorders.
Special care is required during patient transport due to challenges with movement.

Heart or great vessel abnormalities present at birth, with severity ranging from mild to life-threatening.
Physiologic stressors complicate management, especially in times of stress.
Family members often provide critical medical history and health insights necessary for effective care.

Genetic condition leads to excessive mucus production, affecting both lungs and digestive systems.
Symptoms typically emerge in infancy, including gastrointestinal issues, respiratory distress, and failure to thrive.
Multiple complications can arise, such as pneumonia, malnutrition, and infertility.
Diagnosis often requires specific testing not available in prehospital settings; alert receiving facilities upon suspicion.

An incurable degenerative disease impacting the central nervous system, most commonly in younger women.
Symptoms include coordination difficulties, muscle weakness, fatigue, and cognitive impairments.
Disease management emphasizes supportive treatments, medication, and physical therapy.

A group of genetic diseases leading to progressive muscle degeneration, often noticeable in childhood.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most prevalent type, primarily affecting boys with distinct muscle and cardiac issues.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) care is mainly supportive, focusing on careful positioning and ventilation assistance if required.

An autoimmune disorder that disrupts neuromuscular transmission, resulting in muscle weakness.
Primarily affects younger women and older men, with ocular manifestations limited to eye muscles.
Myasthenic crisis poses a risk of respiratory failure; EMS care typically involves airway protection and ventilatory support.

Birth defect associated with neural tube development, leading to spinal cord exposure.
Diagnosis is often made via prenatal ultrasound, necessitating immediate postnatal care to cover openings and prevent hypothermia.
Associated challenges may include urinary dysfunction and orthopedic problems.

A viral infection that can cause paralysis; aggressive vaccination efforts have significantly decreased case numbers.
Initial symptoms can mimic common viral infections; however, muscle weakness may follow.
Survivors face the risk of post-polio syndrome, which renews symptoms of weakness and respiratory complications.

Leads to various complications that can affect cognition, movement, and communication.
Patient assessment is complicated by the range of impairments; caregiver support often needed.
Patient cooperation may be limited due to injury, requiring extended interaction for history gathering and assessment.