[Complaints and illnesses in children in the Netherlands]

To provide insight into the nature, prevalence and consequences of common chronic health problems in children (0-18 years) in the Netherlands.

Survey based on general practitioner records, population surveys and a literature search.

"Disorders" comprises not only illness, but also complaints, symptoms and health problems. The survey was restricted to chronic health problems (present for at least 3 months) with a prevalence of at least 1% in children in the Netherlands.

The chronic diseases most frequently registered by general practitioners are asthma and eczema (1-year prevalence ca. 4%), followed by abdominal pain and constipation (2%-3%) in children under the age of 11 years and by headache, fatigue, back pain and abdominal pain (2%-3%) in older children. The conditions most frequently reported in population surveys by children themselves or their parents are headache, fatigue and sleeping problems, followed by hay fever, depressive symptoms and back pain. The prevalence of such conditions is especially high in teenage girls: over 20% for fatigue, headache and sleeping problems and 5-15% for depressive symptoms, back pain and abdominal pain. 2%-3% of all children experience serious limitations in daily functioning due to a chronic health condition. In addition, 8%-9% of young children and 14%-20% of the older children experience mild limitations.

A substantial number of children experience limitations in daily functioning due to a chronic condition. Allergy-related diseases, pain and malaise complaints constitute a major part of childhood chronic health problems. Pain and malaise complaints especially remain largely invisible for health care professionals and policy makers. A perspective of the consequences of these ailments in the long term is lacking.