Prevalence of chronic illness in childhood

There is no definitive definition of chronic illness in childhood. However, there are certain aspects that are included in most definitions: a condition that has lasted for longer than 3 months that affects the child’s physical, cognitive, emotional or social well-being, and incurs periods of exacerbations that require hospitalization.

There remains a lack of robust and comprehensive data on the prevalence of chronic illness in childhood. The most common chronic illness in childhood is asthma. It is estimated that there are 1.1 million (1 in 11) children receiving treatment for asthma in the United Kingdom. Diabetes is also regarded as a significant chronic condition which can lead to disability and premature death if it is not managed well. The current estimate of type 1 diabetes in children in the United Kingdom is 1 per 700–1000. Cystic fibrosis is the most common genetic condition affecting Caucasian children. The incidence is 1 per 2500 births. Childhood cancer is relatively rare, affecting 1 in 10 000 children in the United Kingdom each year. The most common diagnosis is leukaemia.

Benefits of home care for children with a chronic illness