Chronic Childhood Diseases

It can be particularly devastating to learn that your child has a chronic illness. Coping with a chronic illness can be draining for the child and his family. When a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness, it’s typical for parents to feel helplessness and sadness. We have seen many cases like this at our Cibolo emergency room.

Learning how your child’s chronic disease manifests and how you can handle it is important if you want to give him a chance at living a normal life.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common chronic childhood diseases and what you can expect from them.

Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory disease that causes the airways to become narrow, making it difficult for the air to circulate in and out of the lungs. As a result, patients who have asthma can experience bouts of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and feelings of tightness in the chest.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. According to a 2009 study, one in ten children is diagnosed with asthma every year.

Although the disease has no cure, you can keep the symptoms under control with a proper treatment plan.

Diabetes

The problem with diabetes is that it can occur at almost any age. Type 2 diabetes, a disease common in adults, has become prevalent even in young children. Experts claim that poor lifestyle habits are to blame for the high incidence of type 2 diabetes in children.

A report from the American Diabetes Association shows that over 5,000 people under the age of 20 are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes every year.

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that can affect the digestive system and lungs, as well as other major organs. Because sodium chloride cannot circulate in and out of cells properly, the digestive juices and mucus thicken, causing severe digestive problems, lung infections, and lung damage. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, salty skin, and increased appetite without any weight gain.

Obesity

Childhood obesity is still one of the most serious global health issues, particularly in urban environments. More than 20% of American children are overweight, and 16-18% are obese. Numerous factors play a role in obesity development, such as genetics, environment, lifestyle, metabolism, and so on. Left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, arthritis, or cancer.

With regular medical care, early diagnosis of chronic childhood disease is possible. By actively coping with your child’s chronic illness, you can improve your family’s quality of life while minimizing the negative impacts and effects of the condition. If the symptoms escalate and you need emergency care in Cibolo, go to Physicians Premier, where you can find a team of experienced doctors that provide high-quality medical services.

Sources

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653
https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes-age-of-onset#childhood
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystic-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353700