Rev. Soc. Bras. Enferm. Ped.2009;9(1):27-31.

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Children with cancer: review of literature on signs and symptoms in palliative phase

DOI: 10.31508/1676-3793200900005

Abstract

Introduction:

children with advanced cancer, in terminal stage and with no possibility of cure, present different signs and symptoms resulting from disease progression. We seek which signs and symptoms were the most reported in the literature in order to plan actions to help controlling them.

Purpose:

to review of the literature on the scientific production related to the signs and symptoms manifested by children with cancer in palliative care.

Results:

three categories were identified: “most common signs and symptoms in palliative care”, “the impact of symptoms in the caretaker” and “health interventions for the treatment of symptoms”.

Conclusions:

despite the fatigue is the symptom most often reported, it receives little attention from health professionals and consequently few effective actions are undertaken to help children who have this symptom.