Paediatrics
Pediatrics is the specialty of medical science concerned with the physical, mental, and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Pediatric care encompasses a broad spectrum of health services ranging from preventive health care to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases
What are the most common chronic conditions?
Based on self-reported data from the ABS National Health Survey 2017–18, the 2 leading chronic conditions for children aged 0–14 were diseases of the respiratory system:
· asthma
· hay fever and allergic rhinitis
The third and fourth leading conditions relate to mental and behavioural disorders:
· anxiety-related problems
· psychological development problems
The fifth most reported chronic condition was food allergies.
The number of children with a food allergy or food-related immune disorder has increased in the last 10 years. A study of more 2,000 Melbourne infants (the Healthnuts study) found that more than 10% of 1 year olds have a food allergy. Common food allergies, such as egg and milk allergies, which were previously limited to early childhood, are becoming increasingly persistent.
Vision disorders are also common among children, with around 12% of children experiencing a vision disorder (diseases of the eye and adnexa).
The most common long-term vision disorders were short and long-sightedness.
Recent research on short-sightedness showed that increasing the time that children spend outside can slow the onset of short-sightedness.
For help and advice on any of the above, please make an appointment with one of Our doctors.
What are the most common chronic conditions?
Based on self-reported data from the ABS National Health Survey 2017–18, the 2 leading chronic conditions for children aged 0–14 were diseases of the respiratory system:
· asthma
· hay fever and allergic rhinitis
The third and fourth leading conditions relate to mental and behavioural disorders:
· anxiety-related problems
· psychological development problems
The fifth most reported chronic condition was food allergies.
The number of children with a food allergy or food-related immune disorder has increased in the last 10 years. A study of more 2,000 Melbourne infants (the Healthnuts study) found that more than 10% of 1 year olds have a food allergy. Common food allergies, such as egg and milk allergies, which were previously limited to early childhood, are becoming increasingly persistent.
Vision disorders are also common among children, with around 12% of children experiencing a vision disorder (diseases of the eye and adnexa).
The most common long-term vision disorders were short and long-sightedness.
Recent research on short-sightedness showed that increasing the time that children spend outside can slow the onset of short-sightedness.
For help and advice on any of the above, please make an appointment with one of Our doctors.
