More and more kids in the US are getting sick with serious or long-lasting health problems that could stay with them as they get older. This comes from a big study of over 230,000 young people, where families talked about whether the kids had issues like asthma or attention problems. The study found that the number of kids with these problems went up from about 23% in 1999 to over 30% in 2018. This means almost one in three kids now have health issues that make it tough for them to do things.
For kids aged 5 to 17, the increase in health problems mainly came from things like ADHD, autism, and asthma. But for young adults aged 18 to 25, it was more about asthma, seizures, or pre-diabetes. It’s important to figure out what’s causing these rises in health issues so we can help the kids. They may need help for the rest of their lives, but our healthcare system isn’t always set up to support them.
Unfortunately, there’s less detailed information about kids’ health from 2019 onwards, so it’s harder to know how things are changing.
Vocabulary List:
- Asthma /ˈæz.mə/ (noun): A respiratory condition marked by the spasms in the bronchi of the lungs causing difficulty in breathing.
- ADHD /ˌeɪ.diː.eɪtʃˈiː/ (noun): Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder a condition characterized by inattentiveness hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
- Autism /ˈɔːtɪzəm/ (noun): A developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication.
- Seizures /ˈsiː.ʒərz/ (noun): Sudden uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that can cause changes in behavior movements feelings and consciousness.
- Pre-diabetes /priː.daɪəˈbiːtiːz/ (noun): A health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
- Healthcare /ˈhɛlθ.kɛr/ (noun): The organized provision of medical care to individuals or communities.
How much do you know?
