Asthma is most common illness in three year olds

ASTHMA is the most commonly reported illness among three year olds.

Just under 16% of the 11,100 children surveyed had been diagnosed with a long-standing illness, with asthma the most frequently reported.

The next most common illnesses were skin problems and food allergies.

Boys were more likely than girls to have a longstanding illness, condition or disability. Boys also had higher rates of asthma, skin problems and food allergies.

Just 2% of children were described as sometimes quite ill and a further 0.3% reported as being almost always unwell.

It was found two-thirds of three year olds received at least one course of antibiotics in the 12 months preceding the interview.

Children with a full medical card (35%) or a GP-only medical card (5%) were more likely to have received a course of antibiotics.

Principal investigator, Prof James Williams from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) said the level of antibiotic use among children was a major concern because of the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance.

One in five children had an accident or injury that required hospital treatment or admission. Boys more than girls were more likely to have needed hospital treatment or admission.

The survey also found children from one-parent families had the highest injury rates, with 20% of children in one parent, one child families experiencing an injury, compared with 15% of children in two parent, one child families.

The study also found the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed by children was linked to the mother’s education level.

Consumption of energy dense foods such as crisps, sweets, chips and non-diet fizzy drinks increased as parental education fell. 63% of children whose mother had a lower secondary level qualification or less, compared with 36% of those from degree-level backgrounds. However, consumption of biscuits and chocolates was over 70% for both groups of children.

Other findings

* Vast majority of three year olds are in good health.

* Gap in child health between social class groups widens over time.

* Quality of a child’s diet is linked to social class.

* Two-thirds of three year olds had received a course of antibiotics in the past year.

* One in five children had an accident or injury that required hospital attention by the age of three.