Evidence of increasing dietary supplement use in children with special health care needs: Strategies for improving parent and professional communication

Abstract

Recently published results from the national survey examining the prevalence of children with special health care needs (1) indicate that 12.8% of children under age 18 in the United States, or 9.3 million children, can be classified as having a special health care need. The classification of special health care needs in this survey, based on the Maternal and Child Health Bureau definition (2), includes children who are identified by their caregiver as needing more medical care services, taking prescription medication, having limitations on their functional abilities, or using or needing special physical, behavioral, or other therapies (other children are at risk for a special health care need, but are not counted in this estimate) (1).