Both during and following a serious illness, a broad range of
behavioral sequelae can be anticipated.12 Many
of these include behavioral regression (eg, thumb-sucking, enuresis,
sleep and feeding problems) or emotional and social regression (eg,
increased dependency, decreased ability to share). Some regression
during illness is appropriate, allowing the child to accept care
and nurturance and to adjust to the stressors at hand. However,
severe regression (eg, a 5-year-old child biting others, incontinence
in a child who has been toilet trained for several years) can be
especially uncomfortable to the child and the family, and it may
necessitate intervention. Children may manifest a broad range of
internalizing behaviors (eg, depression, anxiety, social withdrawal)
or externalizing behaviors (eg, aggressive behavior, acting out) during
and after an illness. It should be noted as well that serious illness
and hospitalization may act as stressors that exacerbate preexisting
emotional or family problems, which may then become evident and
accessible to intervention.