Childhood chronic illness refers to conditions in pediatric patients that are usually prolonged in duration, do not resolve on their own, and are associated with impairment or disability.[1] The duration required for an illness to be defined as chronic is generally greater than 12 months, but this can vary, and some organizations define it by limitation of function rather than a length of time.[2] Regardless of the exact length of duration, these types of conditions are different than acute, or short-lived, illnesses which resolve or can be cured. There are many definitions for what counts as a chronic condition. However, children with chronic illnesses will typically experience at least one of the following: limitation of functions relative to their age, disfigurement, dependency on medical technologies or medications, increased medical attention, and a need for modified educational arrangements.[3]
There are many different diseases affecting children that have a prolonged course and can lead to disability or impairment including asthma, sickle cell anemia, congenital heart disease, obesity, neurodevelopmental conditions, and epilepsy. Owing to improvements in public health and health infrastructure, infant and child mortality especially from infectious causes has decreased in most areas of the world.[4] Therefore, children are living longer with chronic illnesses.
^Stanton AL, Revenson TA, Tennen H (2007). "Health psychology: psychological adjustment to chronic disease". Annual Review of Psychology. 58: 565–592. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085615. PMID 16930096.
^Perrin JM, Bloom SR, Gortmaker SL (June 2007). "The increase of childhood chronic conditions in the United States". JAMA. 297 (24): 2755–2759. doi:10.1001/jama.297.24.2755. PMID 17595277.
^Allen PJ, Vessey JA, Schapiro N (2010). Primary care of the child with a chronic condition (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN 978-0-323-05877-3. OCLC 373479661.
^Lantto M, Renko M, Uhari M (September 2013). "Changes in infectious disease mortality in children during the past three decades". The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 32 (9): e355–e359. doi:10.1097/INF.0b013e3182930694. PMID 23538525. S2CID 24827747.
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