The nurse and children with lactose intolerance

Teoretična izhodišča: Laktozna intoleranca je bolezen, ki jo povzroča pomanjkanje encima laktaze. Pomanjkanje encima laktaze onemogoča popolno razgradnjo laktoze na glukozo in galaktozo v tankem črevesu. Nerazgradnja laktoze povzroči neprijetne simptome. Otroci se zaradi neprijetnih simptomov začnejo upirati hrani, kar privede do izgubljanja telesne teže ter zastoja v rasti. Pri večini otrok se zmanjša samostojnost ter postanejo negotovi glede hrane, kaj smejo uživati in kaj ne. Otrok se mora soočiti z brezlaktozno dieto, pri čemer pa potrebuje pomoč ter podporo staršev in članov zdravstvenega in negovalnega tima. Namen: Predstaviti značilnosti laktozne intolerance ter obenem vlogo medicinske sestre pri obravnavi teh otrok. Namen raziskave je ugotoviti v kolikšni meri so otroci in njihovi starši poučeni o bolezni in zdravljenju le-te. Metode: Raziskava je temeljila na kvantitativni metodologiji. Podatke smo pridobili s pomočjo delno strukturiranega anonimnega vprašalnika, ki je vseboval 21 vprašanj. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 30 staršev bolnih otrok, ki so v obravnavi v pediatrični gastroenterološki ambulanti Splošne bolnišnice Celje. Rezultati in diskusija: Na podlagi analize pridobljenih rezultatov smo ugotovili, da se je pri večini otrok zdravstveno stanje po uvedbi brezlaktozne diete postopoma izboljšalo, pri nekaterih so težave celo izginile. Ugotovili smo tudi, da se starši v veliki večini zavedajo pomena brezlaktozne diete in posledic nezdravljenja. Starši so mnenja, da medicinske sestre z delom zadovoljujejo njihova pričakovanja glede zdravstveno vzgojnega svetovanja ter menijo, da imajo dovolj znanja o laktozni intoleranci.Introduction: Lactose intolerance or lactase deficiency is a disease that is caused by the lack of the enzyme called lactase. The insufficient level of the enzyme lactase prevents the total decomposition of lactose to glucose and galactose in the small bowel. The inability to completely decompose lactase can cause unpleasant symptoms. Due to those, many children stop eating which causes weight loss and the process of growing is in stagnation. The majority of children become less independent and unsure about what they can or cannot eat. The child has to face a non-lactose diet and is in need of help from his parents, medical and nursing team. Purpose: The purpose was to present the characteristics of lactose intolerance and at the same time to show the importance of a nurse when this disease occurs in children. The purpose of the research was to find out how much do children and parents know about this disease and its treatment. Methods: The research is based on quantitative methodology. The information was acquired by the help of an anonymous questionary which consisted of 21 questions. The research was based on the answers of thirty parents whose children have been treated in the Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology in Celje General Hospital. Results and discussion: According to the analysis of the acquired information, we established that in most cases, children who had the non-lactose diet gradually got much better or even completely recovered. We also established that in most cases, parents are completely aware how important this diet is and what are the consequences if the disease is not treated properly. Parents say that nurses and their sufficient knowledge fulfill their expectations