ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the issues involved in paediatric palliative care, and the strategies that can be used in a comprehensive approach to care. Paediatric care has traditionally been limited to investigation, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. The growth of palliative care for adults has not been parallelled in paediatrics. There is an increasing awareness of the need for comprehensive care for dying children and their families. The Box provides a list of the major types of life-threatening illnesses from which children can suffer. Communicating with children is an essential and challenging aspect of paediatric care. The death of a child is one of the most traumatic events that families can be called upon to endure, and a child's progressive, life-threatening illness has a profound effect on all dimensions of family life. The World Health Organization has developed guidelines for the management of cancer pain in children.
