Chronic Illnesses in Children: Know the Roll of Health Insurance

Childhood fun and memories must not get blurred due to sickness and medical conditions, especially chronic illnesses. Diseases like diabetes, respiratory illness, heart diseases, metabolism disorders, etc., are not limited to adult people but also affect millions of kids. Such health problems can hinder the joy of childhood. In a survey of around 17,000 children, 31% of them were found to be suffering from some sort of chronic illness. Such pediatric chronic illnesses statistics raise the alarm for better health safety for children. In this journey, having a health insurance plan can be a great help.

Chronic Illness in Childhood

After a certain age, most of the people suffer from some or the other type of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, etc. These are considered adult diseases. However, children may also develop these types of childhood diseases that can become a disruption in their day-to-day activities and choices. The impact of chronic illness on child and family can be serious. Seeing your child in such a condition can be disheartening and overwhelming. 

List of Chronic Childhood Illnesses 

Early diagnosis, correct treatment, and lifestyle changes can help a lot in managing and curing health problems. In case you doubt your child is not physically or mentally fit, getting diagnosed with the help of a doctor's consultation is the best decision. Waiting for too long or delaying can make the situation worse. Along with this, helping your child understand the situation and take it calmly is also important.

Here are some of the most common chronic childhood illnesses

Lungs and Upper Respiratory Tract

One of the most common childhood chronic diseases is respiratory problems. Although pediatric lung cancer is not very common, the number has increased recently. Generic predisposition and environmental risks can be reasons behind it. There can be different types of lung cancer in kids, like carcinoid tumours, primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, bronchoalveolar carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer can be:

• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Persistent cough
• Chest pain
• Blood in cough
• Weight loss
• Breathing problems

Other than this, children may also develop upper respiratory tract infections like sinusitis, pharyngitis, common cold, epiglottis, and laryngitis. Exposure to certain viruses and bacteria usually causes these problems. Early diagnosis can help in getting timely treatment.

Heart-related Illness

Heart diseases at a young age can be tough to deal with, especially in small children. It may be either present by birth or one may develop due to various genetic syndromes. Common heart diseases in kids include:

• Congenital Heart Disease (CHD): It is a heart condition prevails  by birth. It causes narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart that leads to blood flow restrictions. Another type of CHD can be where the left side of the heart remains underdeveloped. Congenital heart disease can also cause holes in the heart, causing defects. Early treatment usually helps most of the kids get back to a normal life.
• Heart Infections: Infections are common in children. In some cases, viruses, fungi, or bacteria may cause myocarditis which leads to poor blood supply by the heart in the body. Medicines can usually treat these conditions.

Blood and Bone Marrow

Blood and bone marrow problems in children may require long-term treatment. Common problems are:

• Thalassemia: Thalassemia causes low levels of haemoglobin in the blood. Due to this, the child may suffer anaemia and have pale skin, consistent fatigue, dark urine, and weakness.
• Leukaemia: Leukaemia is a white blood cell cancer that grows rapidly. Usually, leukaemia in children can be treated.
• Lymphoma: Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic system. It is usually rare but can develop in childhood. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, medicines, etc. can help get the right treatment.

Kidney

Nephrotic syndrome is a common kidney problem in kids. This condition is caused due to damage to the kidney which leads to excessive release of protein in the urine. It may further lead to high cholesterol and low levels of protein in the body.

Liver

Children may experience liver problems at a young age. Fatty liver that causes excessive fat buildup in the liver is one problem. Apart from this, chronic hepatitis, cholestatic liver disorder, portal hypertension and cirrhosis may also affect a child's liver. Loss of appetite, stomach pain, weakness, and fatigue may be some of the common symptoms. 

Brain

After leukaemia, brain tumours are the second most common cancer in children. Tumors in the brain can be benign or malignant (cancerous). Through diagnosis, a conclusion can be reached. Apart from this, children may also suffer from epilepsy, which causes seizures. Depending on the type of seizure, the symptoms may also differ. Early treatment can help lower and control seizures.

Developmental and Behavioural

During childhood, different reasons can contribute to developmental and behavioural problems in a child. ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is one of the most common problems. In this condition, a child may become either too hyperactive or lose interest in activities at all. Even after the best care by parents, some children may have behavioural problems. Through counselling, these problems can be dealt with.

Gastrointestinal System Disorder

Kids may also suffer gastrointestinal problems. One of these is GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) where the kid may experience heartburn behind the breastbone. Another problem can be chronic constipation, which causes problems in passing stool. Apart from these, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease may also occur.

Nutritional

Nutritional problems are common in children. Lack of proper nutrients in early childhood can lead to slow or abnormal physical and mental growth. It may lead to malnutrition, excessive weight loss, weakness, and poor bone health. Junk food and excessive fat consumption may lead to obesity.

Chromosomal

Chromosomal in children is a condition by birth where the kid may lose some chromosomes needed for DNA buildup. This genetic disorder may lead to behavioural disorders, learning problems, seizures, eating disorders, and so on. If you think your child is suffering from chromosomal, you must see a doctor soon.

In Conclusion

Coping with chronic childhood illnesses poses immense challenges for parents. It demands continuous care, emotional strength, financial strain, and frequent medical attention. It goes without saying that most of the treatments come with a cost. In such a scenario, health insurance becomes vital for managing the finances. The right kind of health insurance can help you navigate through the complexities of managing your child's persistent health condition. Get in touch with us in case you want to purchase one. Our experts at Care Health Insurance will guide you through in availing the best suited health insurance as per your requirements. 

>> Also Read: Critical Illness Insurance: What Is It and Who Needs It?

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.