Child Health in Germany Allergies and mental disorders often

Latest data on German child health published

German children and adolescents are most likely to suffer from allergic diseases such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis), bronchial asthma and neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis). In second place are mental disorders such as the attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Accident injuries and obesity also cause many health problems. This is evident from data recently published by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

The study on the health of children and adolescents in Germany (KiGGS) is regularly conducted and published by the RKI. According to RKI, KiGGS is the only comprehensive study on the health of children and adolescents in Germany, thus providing the basis for evidence-based policy decisions. Recently, the latest study results based on RKI research and surveys from 2014 to 2017 have been published. The results can be found in the RKI published "Journal of Health Monitoring 3/2018".

Which diseases and complaints are children and adolescents most likely to suffer in Germany? The Robert Koch Institute recently published new data on child health in Germany's largest and most comprehensive study on the subject. (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia.com)

Allergies in first place

Hay fever, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis - these allergic diseases are among the most common health complaints among children and adolescents in Germany. "The everyday life is often burdened by the complaints," write the RKI experts in a press release on the study results. According to the RKI, every sixth child (16.1 percent) suffers from at least one allergic disease. A total of 2.1 million adolescents in Germany are affected by allergies.

Allergic sensitizations even more widespread

As the RKI reports, allergic sensitizations, which are associated with an increased risk of developing allergic disease, are even more prevalent. More than a third, more than one in three children develop allergic sensitization. This development, like the number of allergies since the first survey of KiGGS data, has remained stable, according to the RKI experts.

Mental abnormalities as the second most frequent complaint

At the first KiGGS baseline survey, around 20 percent of all children and adolescents were mentally disturbed. Here, the RKI researchers observed a declining trend. The latest data show that in the years 2014 to 2017, 16.9 percent of all adolescents showed mental disorders. Number one of the psychic abnormalities takes the attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder ADHD. 4.4 percent of adolescents between the ages of 3 and 17 had ADHD diagosis. Between 2003 and 2006, one percent more children and adolescents were still affected by the attention deficit syndrome.

Inequalities due to socioeconomic status

As the RKI noted, there are variations due to socioeconomic status. Children of low-educated, low-status, and / or low-income parents are more likely to have psychiatric abnormalities. "In order to enable all children and adolescents to grow up healthily, measures for health promotion and prevention should start early in the curriculum vitae and be tailored to the needs of the target group," the RKI scientists suggest.

Accident injury in third place

The third most common health complaints among children and adolescents in Germany are caused by accidental injuries. Almost one in five boys (19.4 percent) and one in six girls (15.2 percent) is treated within a year for an injury resulting from an accident. This value has not changed according to RKI figures since the first survey.

Underweight in German children

The RKI also identified data on the prevalence of underweight and obesity in adolescents. The data were assessed according to two different reference systems (WHO and IOTF). The data presented here are based on the IOTF system. According to this, ten percent of all girls and boys between the ages of three and 17 are underweight. In 1.5 percent of adolescents, a very strong underweight was found.

Overweight children

Obesity in childhood is a major health issue in Germany. 19.3 percent of adolescents are affected by obesity, almost every fifth child. Every twentieth child (4.7 percent) suffers from obesity. In one percent of boys and girls, an extreme adipose body weight was found. The distribution among the sexes is about the same according to the data of the study. The age group between 11 and 13 is most affected by obesity. The highest prevalence of obesity was found among RKI researchers in the 14- to 17-year-olds. (Vb)