Asthma and respiratory disease . Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood, killing hundreds of U.S. children each year. Lead poisoning . Lead can permanently damage children's brains, bone marrow, kidneys and reproductive organs. Chronic Disease .
Inadequate housing can tip fragile children with chronic diseases from health into sickness.
Children with such respiratory diseases as cystic fibrosis, immune disorders as AIDS, and complicated diseases as cancer are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor housing. The usual medical treatments didn't work, and the symptoms persisted even after their mother followed instructions to rid the apartment of rugs, dust and cockroaches. His two-year treatment regimen devastated his immune system, leading doctors to provide dental care now just to reduce the chance of a mouth infection later. During a routine physical exam, Donald's doctor noticed extensive, well healed burn marks on both of his legs. Donald's family had been living in an unfurnished room in a dilapidated house in North Philadelphia, with many of the other tenants being crack addicts.