Remember that many herbs and dietary supplements containing vitamin K also can interfere with lab results when your child is taking warfarin. Please ask your healthcare team if you are considering having your child take any supplements. Children who are not taking warfarin do not need to avoid foods high in vitamin K and should continue to maintain a nourishing diet as advised by the healthcare team. It is important to offer your child fluids to drink frequently throughout the day. A child who is not drinking enough fluids may become dehydrated. Dehydration can contribute to the forming of blood clots. Signs of dehydration include decreased urine output, dizziness, and a dry mouth. A dietitian may be a member of your child’s healthcare team. Dietitians are trained in the calorie and nutritional needs of children. The dietitian can provide education on your child’s dietary needs and ideas about how to meet these needs during treatment. The healthcare team will monitor your child’s nutritional status, height, and weight during and after treatment to try to prevent problems. If your child’s weight is a factor of their thrombophilia (for instance, if your child is overweight or obese), the healthcare team will talk with you about this risk factor and ways to manage it. When a concern about nutrition arises, your child’s healthcare team will discuss with you the ways to manage and improve your child’s nutrition. CAN MY CHILD ATTEND SCHOOL? Your child’s ability to go to school during therapy will depend on the intensity of the treatment and their response to the treatment. However, it is important that your child keep up with schoolwork, even during these times. Federal laws protect children with disabilities or illnesses to ensure that they receive the same education as their peers. Talk with your child’s healthcare team and school staff about these laws. Then work with them to arrange for a tutor or to find other ways to help your child stay on track with schoolwork. Talk with the healthcare team about your child’s ability to attend school. Many hospitals and clinics have resources such as educational liaisons to assist in coordinating school services and educating teachers and classmates to prepare them for your child’s return to school. Anticoagulation therapy should be discussed with the school staff and school nurse. Children receiving anticoagulation therapy should avoid high-risk sports and activities to prevent head injury or internal bleeding. Contact sports like football, hockey, soccer, and basketball should be avoided while your child is receiving anticoagulation therapy. Participation in physical education (P.E. or gym) may need to be restricted or moderated if contact sports or similar activities are involved. Talk to your healthcare provider about your child’s specific activities and restrictions. SUGGESTED READING AND RESOURCES National Human Genome Research Institute. (2011). About Factor V Leiden Thrombophilia . https://www. genome.gov/Genetic-Disorders/Factor-V-Leiden-Thrombophilia Stop the Clot ® . National Blood Clot Alliance website. www.stoptheclot.org . The National Blood Clot Alliance is a nationwide community-based patient advocacy organization whose mission is to provide information about thrombosis and thrombophilia. The website includes patient education materials to assist those affected by blood clots and provides reliable information to improve understanding and treatment of blood clots.
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