Increasing numbers of children are surviving with long-term and severe chronic illnesses. Approximately 10% to 15% of children have some chronic health condition; 2% of children in the United States have severe chronic illnesses. Despite the differences in medical and surgical treatments for these varied diseases, the fact of chronicity creates certain problems common to most families with a chronically ill child: high financial costs, heavy daily care burden, conflicting professional advice, and social isolation. New findings about the developmental and emotional impact of childhood chronic illness suggest opportunities for early intervention to diminish handicaps from chronic illness.
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