Identifying the educational implications of chronic illness in school children.

Children and adolescents with chronic illness such as asthma, diabetes, and cancer are at the intersection of the health and education systems. At school, their health needs may be attended to by a school nurse, while their educational needs may be overlooked. This article helps school personnel become more proactive in identifying the educational implications of chronic illness in school children. The confusing array of terms used to refer to this population by health professionals and educators are clarified, and estimates of the size of the population are provided. The potential impact of some common disease processes, treatments, and medications are reviewed, as are the risks of chronic absenteeism. Suggestions for how school and health professionals can identify and work with this group of children are offered.