I don’t k do any kids with chronic health issues except for allergies.

Here's my anecdotal data:

One kid had a lot of accidents - broken bones, one requiring surgery, multiple stitches, a case of Lyme disease; but mostly healthy. All physical things from being super active and not really scared of taking physical risks.

One kid had two separate and serious health issues, both long term, one requiring surgery. She has spent the most time in and out of appointments and hospital stays.

One kid was perfectly healthy. Rarely ill, only went to the doctor for immunizations and sports physicals. Then he turned 20 and his mental health tanked. He now has a bipolar diagnosis, and is doing well enough with therapy and medication.

My children have 0 health issues. I have three. All independent, well-adjusted and healthy young adults (19-25) now.

Anonymous wrote:My kids (5 and 2) both have some chronic health issues and while it's all manageable and nothing too serious, it makes me kind of sad that they have to deal with this stuff. It seems like they are in the minority and most kids that I come across don't have to deal with much health-wise. But maybe the parents I talk to just don't share this stuff with me, who knows. How common do you think it is for kids to be perfectly healthy based on what you see?

Someone has always got it better. Someone always has it worse. My DD is a zebra with multiple so called rare diseases (according to NORAD). Feel better?

This is all relative. I have a friend whose kids have all been to the ER multiple times despite being under age 8. My kids have never been to the ER. But one of my kids has ADHD and this is a daily challenge that we have dedicated a ton of energy to over the years and is a constant source of stress in a way that, say, getting a bead stuck up a kid's nose and needing to have it removed by an ER doc is not. This isn't to diminish my friends' kids' challenges (some of them have been less acute than a bead in the nose) but to explain that health challenges can take many forms and are hard to compare one to one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many kids have something but usually it's pretty mild and doesn't affect quality of life. What kind of things do mean though? What is a health issue?

I have a kid with eczema that was pretty severe as an infant/toddler and still flares up as a teen and we manage it.

Most people who know us would never know about it. I don't mention it and it doesn't really affect life.

Yeah, like anything chronic that you have to treat and may be a source of stress. Like asthma, food allergies, developmental stuff like speech delays, ADHD or autism. Frequent cavities?

If you are counting asthma, allergies, ADHD, and cavities, the answer is close to zero. My kid is very healthy but we're getting her evaluated for ADHD this summer and she has a cavity every single time we go to the dentist despite fastidious brushing and flossing.

OP, I think most families have something like this with at least one of their kids, but a lot of people don't talk about it because (1) they assume other people don't really care, (2) discussing it in front of their kids might make it seem like a bigger deal than it is, and (3) who wants to fixate on something like asthma or cavities while socializing? I don't.

Here's all that matters: no kid has 0 issues, health or otherwise. Your kids might have to deal with medical issues and more doctors visits that usual. Another kid might be dealing with ADHD or anxiety or ASD. Another kid might just be very sensitive and struggle mightily with friendships or changes in schedule. Another kid might be bullied at school. Another kid might have a learning disorder that makes school miserable. And so on and so forth.

Playing "whose kid has it worst" is a pointless game. And even if you find a kid who has absolutely no health issues, that doesn't mean that kid's life is easy or they have no hardships or their parents have no worries. In fact, I guarantee you it does not.

You just have to focus on your own children and their challenges and don't worry so much about whether other families have it harder or easier. It's not knowable and more importantly, it doesn't matter for you at all.

Anonymous wrote:Older child totally healthy, no issues except mild period cramps; the other has seasonal allergies, a severe food allergy, mild asthma, and was recently diagnosed with OCD at the age of 12--so now on an SSRI to treat the OCD. That came out of nowhere-- evidently commonly appears with puberty.

And to add to this-- from the outside no one would be aware of my DC's health issues (aside from the asthma.) I think many people have invisible health problems.

Older child totally healthy, no issues except mild period cramps; the other has seasonal allergies, a severe food allergy, mild asthma, and was recently diagnosed with OCD at the age of 12--so now on an SSRI to treat the OCD. That came out of nowhere-- evidently commonly appears with puberty.