Specific non-malignant diseases

The number of life-limiting conditions in paediatrics is vast, and paediatric palliative medicine is generally based equally on both malignant and non-malignant conditions. There are several medical conditions that are common enough for it to be helpful to know about them in more detail. As all the conditions, by definition, have no cure, it is best to tackle each symptom with which the child presents individually, never forgetting that medical intervention is not the only modality open to us. Common conditions, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, mucopolysaccharidosis type 1, mucopolysaccharidosis type 3, Batten’s disease, spinal muscular atrophy, and trisomy 18, are covered in this chapter. Details of clinical features and prognosis are described for each.