ALLERGIES ARE THE MOST COMMON CHRONIC CONDITION

In a recent report published in the American Journal of Public Health, two health researchers summarized the enormous magnitude of common chronic illnesses among Americans under 18 years old.

An estimated 31 percent of all young Americans, almost 20 million, have one or more chronic conditions.  The most commonly reported condition is respiratory allergies, in 97 of every 1000 children and teenagers.

Chronic ear infections, often seen in conjunction with allergy, were also high on the list, reported in 83 of every 1000 people in the under 18 age group.  Eczema and other skin allergies ranked fourth among the list of chronic conditions, in 31 of every 1000 under the age of 10, and in 35 of every 1000 ages 10-17.  Digestive allergies were reported in 23 of every 1000 under 10, only slightly less in the 10-17 age group.

Asthma ranked first in the number of lost school days, and was reported in 43 of every 1000 children.