Acquired Brain Injury

An acquired brain injury may be the result of a head injury in a traffic accident, fall, sport injury, assault or accident at work or home. A blow to the head may severely shake the brain and cause brain damage even where there are no external signs of injury. People who have sustained brain injuries may have speech impairments, short term memory loss, difficulty organising thoughts and finding words, and a short attention span. They may have difficulty in self-censoring what they say, and act impulsively.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a deficiency in the immune system due to infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). There is no curative treatment although symptoms and complications can be treated.

See also HIV

Anaphylactic Shock

A rare, severe and life threatening allergic reaction that causes a sudden severe lowering of blood pressure. May be caused by an insect bite, intravenous drug (such as penicillin), or drug or food taken by mouth.

A heart disorder that causes chest pain due to a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, usually due to poor blood supply because of narrowing of the arteries. More common in men and women from the age of 50 years although can occur in men as early as 30 years. Other symptoms include nausea, sweating, dizziness, and breathing difficulty. Medication is taken to control the symptoms.

Arthritis

Inflammation of a joint, characterised by swelling and stiffness.

Although there are many forms, the three most common types are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout. Osteoarthritis results from wear and tear on the joints and most commonly affects older people. Rheumatoid Arthritis is where the body's immune system acts against and damages joints and surrounding tissues. Joints - especially in hands, wrists, feet and arms - can become extremely painful, stiff and deformed. Gout is when uric crystals accumulate in the joints and cause inflammation.

Asthma

During an asthma attack the lining of the airways becomes swollen causing narrowing of the airways, and reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs. An asthma attack may be triggered by an allergy, or have no apparent external cause.

The main symptoms are breathlessness, wheezing, dry cough and feeling of tightness in the chest. In a severe breathing may become difficult, causing sweating, rapid heartbeat, distress and anxiety. If the person's medication is on hand encourage them to take it immediately at the recommended dose.

Blindness and Vision Impairment

See Part 3.2 - People with a vision impairment

Cerebral Palsy

Deafness and Hearing Impairment

See Part 3.3  People with a hearing impairment.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body is prevented from converting glucose ( a type of sugar) into energy because there is not enough insulin, a hormone that helps the conversion, or the insulin is not working adequately.

Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures can be brought about by illness, tiredness, stress, anxiety, flashing lights, excitement, excessive alcohol, an excess of physical activity, or lack of food. Avoiding these situations is important to reduce the frequency of seizures. Some people also take prescribed medication. Most people have no symptoms between seizures.

See Part 1 - Emergency Procedures

Haemophilia

A familial disease which is not very common. It is the result of the lack of a blood-clotting factor essential in blood. An injury usually results in copious bleeding.

See Part 1 - Emergency Procedures

Hemiplegia

Loss of voluntary movement of one side of the body, usually after a Cerebro Vascular Accident (CVA or stroke).

See Stroke

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver with damage or death of liver cells. Most commonly caused by a viral infection. Types A, B, C are the most common.

HIV

Incontinence

Loss of or poor bladder or bowel contol. Causes may be physical or chemical, that is, caused or exacerbated by medication.

Mental Illness

Mental illnesses include Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorders and Severe Anxiety. Each is different in its effects and duration, and all are severely unpleasant and disabling during the acute phase.

For example, a person in the acute phase of their illness may become disorientated, paranoid, muddled and disjointed in their speech, suffer delusions or feel persecuted, have hallucinations or a grand belief in their own superior position and powers, jump from one subject to another or experience extreme mood changes.

Many people, however, are able to return to normal activities with treatment and when people with a mental illness are well there is no need to behave any differently towards them than to anybody else.

Multiple Sclerosis

A progressive disease of the central nervous system in which scattered patches of myelin (the protective covering of the nerve fibres) in the brain and spinal cord are destroyed. The cause is unknown and the symptoms can include blurred or double vision, blindness, tremors, weakness, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, and pain in the face. They can occur singly or in combination, and may vary according to which parts of the brain and spinal cord are affected. They may last from several weeks to several months, and there may be long symptom-free periods for some people, and gradual and continuous decline in ability for others.

Muscular Dystrophy

Term for a group of muscle disorders that cause a slow progressive degeneration of muscle fibres. Can result in chronic weakness, fatigue, respiratory or cardiac problems. Walking ,if possible, may be slow and uncoordinated.

Paralysis

Complete or partial loss of controlled movement caused by the inability to contract one or more muscles. May be temporary or permanent, affect a small facial muscle or many of the muscles in the body. There may also be loss of feeling in the affected parts.

Paraplegia

Paralysis of both legs and part of the trunk due to nerve damage in the brain or spinal cord. Often with loss of sensation and urinary control.

Quadriplegia

Paralysis of all four limbs and trunk. May be caused by damage to the spinal cord in the neck region. Results in loss of feeling and power in the affected parts.

Stroke