Asthma attacks can be started by allergic reactions to items such as animal dander, rodents, cockroaches, dust mites and indoor molds, all of which can be found in most shelter housing. Attacks can also be triggered by factors such as tobacco smoke, colds and other infections, pollutants, and the traumas and stresses frequently associated with homelessness. Homeless children are increasingly susceptible to nutritionally-based health problems that have lifelong implications. While this is indeed a bright spot in an otherwise bleak child health landscape, other nutritionally-based health concerns have come to the attention of health care professionals. In both cases, economic necessity or a lack of parental understanding of appropriate nutritional requirements result in the child being fed poor foods which exacerbate other health and developmental problems.
Obesity affects one in five children in the United States.
Many of the cardiovascular consequences experienced by obese adults, such as high cholesterol levels, hypertension and heart disease, are preceded by abnormalities that begin in obese children. Obesity is a contributing factor to other diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, respiratory problems and certain types of cancer. Underweight children are more susceptible to recurrent respiratory or gastrointestinal infections. These infections increase caloric needs and lower dietary intake, leaving the child more malnourished and increasing his or her vulnerability to repeat infection. Micronutrient deficiencies complicate undernutrition and cause anemia and rickets.