A terminal illness is an illness that, because of its nature,
can be expected to cause the patient's death. It is estimated that each year
53,000 children in the United States die from trauma, extreme prematurity,
hereditary disorders, acquired illness, or other conditions. Often, a terminal
illness is a chronic disease for which there is no known cure. Many childhood
terminal illnesses are rare disorders, sometimes also known as "orphan"
diseases.
An infant or child with a terminal illness and his or her family may benefit
from palliative care-- care designed to relieve or minimize the symptoms of the
condition, including the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. Palliative
care, also called comfort care, focuses on quality of life for the child and
support for the family and includes the management of distressing symptoms,
provision of respite, and care through death and bereavement.