If your child has Albinism, do not be scared. Albinism is a group of inherited conditions that cause insufficient production of melanin (dark pigment) in the hair, skin, and eyes. The lack of melanin in the body causes increased vulnerability towards damage from sunlight. While ocular albinism only affects the eyes, oculocutaneous albinism affects the skin, hair, and eyes.
Usually children with albinism are born to parents with typical black pigmentation; sometimes there is only a single affected child in a family, and sometimes there are more.
However, other than coping with vision and skin problems, albinos also face social, emotional, and educational challenges and sometimes ridicule from others, but if the right steps are taken, your child will grow up just like every other child.
Here are five steps to take to help your child cope with albinism:
1. Understanding albinism
First off, you need to know and understand what albinism is. You also need to understand that your child is a blessing. Your child is not sick and cannot make others sick.
Having an albino child does not mean bad things will happen to your family. Whenever there are problems, it is not the child who is causing the problem. Albinism is not caused by the unfaithfulness of either the wife or the husband. You should not suspect your spouse of being unfaithful. It is simply a specific combination of genetic traits passed on by both parents.
2. Speak to your child about it
It is highly advised that you talk to your child about her condition and help her or him understand and know what is going to happen. Most importantly, make your child understand that you are always going to be there. Reassure her that he or she will grow up into an adult like other children and become a competent adult.
3. Use visual aids
Low vision tools such as telescopic lenses mounted on eyeglasses, hand-held monoculars, and video-enlargement machines can help make reading easier for your child. Work with low-vision specialists and opticians to find out what works best for your child.
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4. Protection from the sun
You can do several things to help protect your skin from the sun. First, try to avoid having your child out in the sun from about 10 a.m. to about 4 p.m. At this time of day, the sun’s rays are the hottest and most direct and can hurt your child the most. During this time your child should stay inside or stay in the shade as much as possible. Outside chores should be done in the early morning or in the late afternoon when the sun’s rays are not so damaging.
Your child’s skin can also be protected by having them wear long-sleeved clothing. White or light-colored cotton shirts and long pants or a long skirt will protect your child’s skin and reflect the sun away from them. They can also wear sunblock lotion to protect the skin. This is very important for the skin areas that will not be covered by clothing.
Ask your child’s teacher to excuse them from physical education class, which is usually held in the hot, sunny part of the day, wearing clothing that massively exposes your child’s skin to the dangers of the sun. Your child can do active things inside or in the shade in place of this class.
5. Defense and support
Others who do not understand albinism may ridicule you or your child. They may say unkind, hurtful things but you need to defend and support your child. Ridicule can do permanent, serious damage to a child’s understanding of his or herself. and can prevent your child from reaching their full potential.
Many people with albinism are very intelligent or smart. They can learn just like others. They can go to school and they can do well in their studies.
Albinos have grown up to do outstanding things. Some well-known singers, government people, college teachers, and business people are albinos. Your child can do most of the things that other people can do. Your child can make a good living and make a positive contribution to the world.