Disability Fact Sheet - Other Health Impairment (Page 3 of 8) in pdf

Epilepsy. According to the Epilepsy Foundation

Hemophilia is a rare, inherited disorder in

of America, epilepsy is a physical condition that

which your blood doesn’t clot properly. As a result,

occurs when there is a sudden, brief change in how

people with hemophilia may bleed after an injury

the brain works. When brain cells are not working

for a longer time than those without the disorder.

properly, a person’s consciousness, movement, or

It’s a myth that persons with hemophilia bleed to

actions may be altered for a short time. These

death from even minor injuries. In truth, the

physical changes are called epileptic seizures.

condition ranges mild to severe. Symptoms in-

Epilepsy affects people in all nations and of

clude: excessive bleeding, excessive bruising, easy

all races.

bleeding, nose bleeds, and abnormal men-

strual bleeding. Bleeding can also be

Symptoms include: “blackouts” or

internal, especially in the knees, ankles,

periods of confused memory; epi-

and elbows.

sodes of staring or unexplained

unresponsiveness; involuntary

With very few exceptions, this

movement of arms and legs; fainting

disorder usually occurs only in

spells with incontinence or followed

males. Each year, about 400 chil-

by excessive fatigue; or odd sounds,

dren are born with hemophilia.

distorted perceptions, and feelings of

Approximately 18,000 people in the

fear that cannot be explained.

U.S. have hemophilia.

For information on epilepsy in

For more information on hemo-

English and Spanish:

philia in English and Spanish, con-

tact the National Hemophilia Foundation, at (800)

•

Read NICHCY’s stand-alone fact sheet on the

42-HANDI and

epilepsy, at

epilepsy/

Lead poisoning. Lead can build up in the body

over a period of months or years. Even a small

•

Visit the Epilepsy Foundation

amount of lead in the body can cause serious

problems—hence, the term lead poisoning. Being

exposed to lead-based paint or paint dust is the

Heart conditions. It is nearly impossible to give

most common avenue to lead poisoning.

a summary of heart conditions that may cause a

“chronic or acute health condition” as defined

Children under the age of six are especially

within IDEA. There are many resources, however,

vulnerable, because their mental and physical

that you can use to learn more about the specific

abilities are still developing. Signs of lead poison-

condition of concern or interest to you. We’ve

ing are rather nonspecific, sometimes making

listed several below to get you started.

diagnosis more difficult. Symptoms include:

irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, sluggish-

•

American Heart Association

ness, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation,

(800)AHA-USA1

unusual paleness from anemia, and learning

difficulties.

•

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

For more information in English and Spanish

on lead poisoning, contact the National Lead

index.htm

Information Center, at (800) 424-LEAD (5323)

•

Mayo Clinic | Look under Diseases and Condi-

and

tions for comprehensive guides to hundreds of

Leukemia. Normally, the bone marrow in our

different conditions, not just those related to

bodies produces white blood cells to defend

the heart.

against infections. Leukemia develops when the

marrow produces too many white blood cells and

what’s produced are abnormal. Leukemia is consid-

ered a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. There

NICHCY:

Other Health Impairment (FS15)

Disability Fact Sheet - Other Health Impairment Page 3

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