The startling statistics are that millions of American children live with diagnosed chronic illnesses. According to a research paper published in Academic Pediatrics in 2011, at least 54% of American children have a diagnosed chronic condition. Below are the prevalence statistics of some of the most common illnesses affecting our children:
- Asthma: At least 1 in 8 children, and approximately 1 in 6 African American children
- Allergic eczema: 1 in 5 children
- Cancer: 178.3 per million children
- Hay fever (seasonal allergies): 2 to 3 out of every 5 children
- Food allergies: 1 in 12 children has a “true” food allergy (IgE mediated). It is estimated that 1 in 3 children (or more) has food intolerances (are sensitive to particular foods) and 1 in 17 children has a life-threatening food allergy. Nearly 2.5% of U.S. children may have an allergy to peanuts.
- Celiac disease: 1 in 80 children
- Obesity/overweight: 1 in 5 children
Millions of American children struggle with what were once termed “psychiatric” disorders: mood disorders, neurobehavioral disorders, developmental delays and learning disabilities:
- Autism: 1 in 30 children (JAMA, 2020)
- 1 in 36 children (CDC, 2023)
- 1 in 22 children in California (CDC, 2023)
- 4.66% of boys (CDC NCHS Data Brief, July 2023)
- ADHD: 1 in 9 children
- Deveopmental or behavioral disorder: 16-18%
- Dyspraxia (impaired coordination and motor skills): 1 in 10 children
- Learning disability: 1 in 6 children
- Mental health disorder: 1 in 6 children
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 1 in 100 children
- Pediatric depression or anxiety: 1 in 20 children
- Sensory Processing Disorder: 1 in 16 children
- Severe mood dysregulation (e.g., bipolar disorder): 1 in 30 children
For every child diagnosed with a chronic illness, there are many more undiagnosed children. There are millions of children with undiagnosed chronic illness.
Many American children are not diagnosed with a particular disease or disorder, but they still show signs of being chronically ill. Here are just a few signs that a child might be chronically ill:
- Chronic ear infections (more than 2 a year)
- Chronic sinus infections (more than 2 a year)
- Chronic diarrhea or loose stools
- Chronic constipation (does not have a bowel movement everyday or at least every other day; passes hard “pellet” stools, difficulty or straining with a bowel movement)
- Constant runny nose
- Reflux, abdominal pains, or other signs of gastrointestinal distress
- Sensory disorders (i.e., aversions to sights, sounds and smells)
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Obsessive or compulsive type behaviors
- Persistent skin rashes (eczema, psoriasis, cradle cap, rashes after eating)
- And many, many more . . .
The most stunning part of this epidemic is that all these seemingly disparate illnesses and disorders may all have the same underlying causes.
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Sources & References
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Ben-Sasson, A., et al. Sensory over-responsivity in elementary school: prevalence and social-emotional correlates. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2009 Jul;37(5):705-16.
Bethell, C., et al. A National and State Profile of Leading Health Problems and Health Care Quality for US Children: Key Insurance Disparities and Across-State Variations. Academic Pediatrics, May–June 2011, Volume 11, Issue 3, Supplement, p. S22–S33.
Bitsko, R.H., et al. Epidemiology and Impact of Health Care Provider-Diagnosed Anxiety and Depression Among US Children. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2018 Apr 24.
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Resources
Randazzo, Sara, et al. A Record Number of Kids Are in Special Education—and It’s Getting Harder to Help Them All. The Wall Street Journal, 20 Jun 2024.