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Pressure ulcer prevention
- 1-5 Years
- 5-11 Years
- 11-19 Years
- SEND
Pressure ulcers are wounds from prolonged skin pressure, often over bony areas. These can be very painful for your child. There are lots of ways you can help prevent pressure ulcers. We will also speak to you about your child's skin health at your appointment. We may order your child pressure relieving equipment and will work with other health professionals to make sure your child's needs are met.
Explore the topics on this page:
Understanding pressure ulcers
A pressure ulcer is a wound that develops when pressure is applied to the skin for a prolonged period. This causes reduced blood flow to the area. They can be painful and can cause disfigurement.
Pressure ulcers can occur anywhere on the body but generally appear over bony parts like the heels or back of the head.
A device related pressure ulcer occurs when feeding tubes, oxygen masks, or splints rub or apply pressure to an area of skin. These are the most common reasons why a child may develop a pressure ulcer.
Things to look out for
You can check for a pressure ulcer by looking out for:
- an area of skin becoming discoloured (on pale skin this tends to show as red patches, while on dark skin this tends to show as purple or blue patches)
- a patch of skin that feels warm, spongy or hard
- pain or itchiness in the affected area
Risk factors
There are lots of reasons why your child could be at risk from developing a pressure ulcer. The more risk factors your child has, the more likely they are to have a pressure ulcer. Some of the risk factors for children include:
- having reduced mobility – children who remain in bed or a chair for long periods and are unable to reposition themselves
- wearing medical devices (for example, wearing splints, casts or orthotics)
- using gastrostomies, NG tubes or adhesive dressings
- feeling unwell or feverish for prolonged periods
- having reduced sensation or are unable to report discomfort or pain
- having diabetes
- having seizures, dystonia or spasms
- being under or over weight
- being malnourished (eating an unbalanced diet)
- being dehydrated (not drinking enough fluids)
- having circulatory conditions that affect their blood flow
- taking certain medicines such as steroids or chemotherapy
- having incontinence or excessive sweating
- having had previous pressure damage in the past
How to prevent pressure ulcers
Last reviewed: 1 November, 2024
