The medical literature defines a chronic physical disease as any organic disorder that lasts more than three months or that entails a period of hospitalization of more than of a month, which restricts an individual’s daily abilities or behaviors and causes
changes to their social functions. Therefore, the criteria by which a disease is defined as chronic is the temporal duration of the disease, the degree of its severity, the extent to which it affects the functionality of the individual and the need it creates for lasting care from health services.
Specifically, it seems that chronic physical diseases incidence rates are notably increased among children and adolescents. Epidemiological studies, conducted in the USA and in England, have estimated that about 10–15% of all children will present a chronic disease.
Chronic physical illness takes a toll on childhood, with organic and functional problems, repeated medical visits, complex examinations, frequent hospitalizations, uncertainty about the future and complex secondary psychological,
social and educational problems. Because of the multiple issues it creates, chronic disease is considered a source of long-term stress for the child and their family. The responsibility of treating the disease is shared between the doctor, the child and the family.
