News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

More children are taking medications for diabetes and other chronic conditions, according to a study from the St. Louis University of Medicine. Researchers looked at the number of prescriptions written between 2002 and 2005, and found increases in medications for allergies, asthma, Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and diabetes.

In 2002, 0.27 per 1000 children took diabetes medicines, and 29.5 per 1000 used asthma controllers. By 2005, asthma medications increased by 46.5 percent, 40.5 percent for ADD and ADHD and 15 percent for diabetes.

Over 15 percent of American children are overweight, and an additional 15 percent are obese, which means more children are developing diabetes.

"The good news is that we doctors are doing a better job of screening children and diagnosing chronic conditions," said Dr. Donna Halloran, assistant professor of pediatrics at St. Louis School of Medicine.

Labels: overweight, meds, pills

Posted By: Aspen Education Group