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Chronic Health Conditions Among Children
Overview: A national study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2010, zeroed in on the deterioration in children’s health over time. From 1988 to 2006, there was a doubling of the prevalence of four types of chronic conditions (obesity, asthma, behavior/learning problems and “other” physical conditions), which rose from 12.8% to 26.6% of American children and youth.
A 2011 Academic Pediatrics study “estimated 43% of U.S. children (32 million) currently have at least 1 of 20 chronic health conditions assessed, increasing to 54.1% when overweight, obesity or being at risk for developmental delays are included.” Pediatric autoimmune conditions are also on the rise. Autism, ADHD, asthma and allergies have doubled since that time, with autism now one in 30 children in some regions in the U.S.
“In 2020–21, the number of students ages 3–21 who received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was 7.2 million, or 15 percent of all public school students. Among students receiving special education services, the most common category of disability was specific learning disabilities (33 percent).”
Mounting evidence indicates environmental toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides as the principal culprits, while studies link vaccines and toxic vaccine ingredients to a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including seizures, neurodevelopmental disorders and infant death. As the medical, public health, and government circles remain silent on the social and economic fallout from these toxic exposures, American children have never been so sick.
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4 in 10 Teens suffering from depression
Children experiencing depression often feel persistently sad, hopeless or irritable, and can feel worthless, useless or guilty. They can display self-injury and self-destructive behavior, and may even think about suicide or plan for suicide.
1 in 5 Children suffering from obesity
Children with obesity are more likely to develop other serious health problems, including heart disease, breathing problems and type 2 diabetes. They are also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
1 in 5 Teens has seriously considered suicide
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults, ages 10-34. Suicide and suicide attempts cause serious emotional, physical, and economic impacts. People who attempt suicide and survive may experience serious injuries that can have long-term effects on their health. They may also experience depression and other mental health concerns. When people die by suicide, their surviving family and friends may experience shock, anger, guilt, symptoms of depression or anxiety, and may even experience thoughts of suicide themselves.
1 in 6 Children ages 2-8 suffering from a developmental disorder
Individuals with a developmental disorder may experience dysfunction in memory, perception, attention, language, problem-solving, or social interaction. Developmental disorder may interfere with learning. They usually begin during early childhood, may impact day-to-day functioning, and can last a person’s lifetime.
1 in 10 Children suffering from anxiety
Anxiety can impact both physical and mental health. It can affect the immune, cardiovascular, urinary, digestive and respiratory systems, and it can increase the risk of infection. Anxiety disorders can cause people to feel ashamed that they cannot live their lives as everyone else does. In turn, this may lead to increased social isolation and further withdrawal.
1 in 10 Children suffering from ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often continues into adulthood. ADHD includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Children with ADHD may also struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships and poor performance in school.
1 in 12 Children has asthma
Asthma is a serious disease causing wheezing, difficulty breathing, and coughing. Over a lifetime, it can cause permanent lung damage. Every year, 1 in 6 children with asthma visits the emergency department, with about 1 in 20 children with asthma hospitalized for asthma.
1 in 13 Children has a food allergy
More than 40% of children with food allergies in the United States have been treated in the emergency department. When a person has a food allergy, the body’s immune response can be severe, as in the case of anaphylaxis, a sudden and severe allergic reaction that may cause death.
1 in 44 Children has autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. ASD begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person’s life.
1 in 285 Children is diagnosed with cancer by age 20
Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children in America. One out of 6 children with cancer in America do not survive five years. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the impact is far spreading. Often a parent has to quit their job to provide care to the child, providing transportation to and from treatments, dealing with the many missed school days, caring for siblings and handling insurance and financial matters.
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