1. Handicap International
Introduction to Physically Disabling Conditions Requiring Medical Attention
Handicap International
Sri Lanka
Aleema Shivji

2. Refer these community members to the nearby hospital or health centre
Some conditions that cause physical disability can be helped in the community
Other conditions require advice and treatment from a medical doctor or other health professional. This is to prevent the condition getting worse or causing worsening physical disability
If you see any of the situations shown in this handout when you visit the community:
Refer these community members to the nearby hospital or health centre
Do not do anything by yourself with these children/adults.

3. Spina Bifida A child that is born with: Bag or lump on back
2. Floppy legs
Need surgery right away or area may become infected and child might die

4. Water on the Brain Big head that gets bigger quicker than normal
Mostly occurs in babies and young children
Caused by too much water on the brain
Big head that gets bigger quicker than normal
Eyes may turn downward like ‘setting sun’
May have cramp in the neck, sensitivity to light and severe headache (together)
Sometimes alone or sometimes with ‘sac on back’
Sometimes needs to be operated otherwise child can get very sick
Very serious – can cause blindness, brain damage, fits, cerebral palsy

5. Broken or dislocated bones
Injury to arm or leg
Bone has come out of its socket and looks like it is in the wrong place
Bone is sticking out through the skin
Body part is bent in a way that is not normal
Needs to be ‘put back in place’ or a plaster cast put on by a professional
Sometimes a child may be born with this problem

6. Cast may need to be removed and a looser one put on
Plaster cast too tight
Toes or fingers change colour
Person has no feeling in toes or fingers
Person has burning or severe pain in toes or fingers
Cast may need to be removed and a looser one put on

7. Open Sores Sores can be due to injury,
burns or areas of pressure (especially if the person has no feeling in their hands or feet)
Biggest concern: open sores that are deep and drain pus, sometimes with fever or pain
Open sores must be treated quickly.
If a sore is deep and infects the bone, surgery may be needed to remove the infected bone or amputate the arm or leg
Deep sores can also sometimes cause general illness and lead to death

8. Severe Spinal Curve Can be caused by TB in the backbone
If the person has:
A lump or sharp bend in their back
A short or thick chest
TB or family member with TB
And might have poor feeling or movement in their legs, loss of urine or bowel control, or difficulty bending forward
Then they might have TB of the backbone and must be seen by a medical doctor

9. Loss of feeling and / or movement in part of the body
Common cause: serious back or neck injury following a fall or car accident. Can also be due to injections not done properly.
If a person loses feeling, movement and/or control of their bowel or bladder suddenly or gradually – they must be seen by a medical doctor
Loss of feeling or movement is below the level of injury

10. Loss of feeling and / or movement in part of the body
At the time of injury:
Do not move the person except onto
a hard board or stretcher, do not twist
or bend the body or neck
Take the person straight to the hospital
In the days following injury, hospital care is required as the person needs time to heal broken back bones and prevent infections and sores

11. Rheumatic fever Usually between 5-15 years of age Pain in many joints
High fever
Usually starts with sore throat and fever then painful joints and fever
Can cause heart damage if severe and not treated
Gets better on own after 6 weeks - 3 months, BUT it can happen again

12. Infection of joint ONE hip, knee, ankle painful
Sometimes red, hot, swollen
May follow illness (typhoid, TB, bacteria)
Sometimes also have fever
Joint may become large or deformed and does not begin to heal on its owns
NOT due to local injury like fall, twisted leg, etc

13. Brain damage Face – one side of mouth droops
Arm – on same side not working properly
Speech – difficult to speak/others to understand or
Sudden loss of coordination

14. Meningitis Soft spot on head bulges up (babies under one year) Fever
Stiff neck
Fits or jerks
Drowsy, sleepy
Worse and worse until child loses consciousness

15. Fits Sometimes can be controlled with medications
In a sick person fits can be very serious – must see doctor right away