Repairs for effects of childhood illnesses

It is human nature to believe in full recoveries and happy-ever-after endings, particularly when it comes to children. But the reality is that major diseases cause lasting damage to children's bodies, even when recovery seems complete. The following guidelines will tell you more.

The reasons why childhood diseases can be so detrimental later in life are varied.  For example, survivors of childhood cancers may face more risks from the treatments they underwent than from recurrences of cancer itself. Harsh chemotherapy drugs and radiation damage healthy cells throughout the body.

The result:

• You're three times more likely to have a chronic health problem as someone who's never had cancer, and eight times more likely to have a severe condition, says a study of 10,000 Canadian and American survivors of pediatric cancers.
• If you had rheumatic fever as a child, you have a 40 to 80 percent chance for developing pancarditis — inflammation of the heart that can damage the valves that help control the flow of blood through your heart.
• You also have a higher risk for arthritis, especially in your fingers.
• If you've had lifelong asthma, long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids could increase your risk for brittle bones and fractures later in life.
• Survivors of childhood polio (cases of polio peaked in the early 1950s) often experience progressive muscle weakness with age.

You can't erase the lingering damage of a major childhood disease. But you can live healthy and, by doing so, reduce risks of new disease. You can nip any emerging problems if you work with your doctor to stay current with health screenings, something only 20 percent of people who survived a major childhood illness do.

Healthy living has many benefits, but for those who had major challenges as a youth, the mental rewards of a healthy, active adulthood are particularly sweet. Plus, by being mindful of the long-term effects of your past challenges, you'll catch related health problems earlier, when they're most treatable.

Tell your doctor about your medical history. Ask what screenings you need now. Knowing your childhood disease challenges helps a doctor know what to watch for and how to help you achieve better health.

You may need to take a special course of antibiotics before having any type of treatment or procedure — even dental cleaning — that could allow bacteria to get into your bloodstream.

Good food, ample exercise, a healthy attitude and life-affirming habits like getting plenty of sleep, water and relaxation are the ticket to long life and good health for everyone, but particularly those whose bodies have been challenged. Make the mental commitment to health, and you will find that your past might become increasingly irrelevant to your future.

If you had a childhood cancer, make an appointment with an oncologist to get the latest information about long-term effects of your earlier illness and treatments — and what you need to do to protect yourself from future health problems.

Get enough calcium, vitamin D and weight-bearing exercise to protect your bones.