health+status+of+street+children

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 * __Health Needs of Street Children__**

Health needs of homeless and street children are likely the same. This information is focused on urban children who roam the streets of every major city. Street children are often overlooked in America still.

Homelessness is thought of as living in boxes, alleys, or sleeping in shelters or on benches. Street children find shelter from cars, shed roofs, leaky roofs, farm houses, or isolated shacks. Street children live in areas with no running water or even no walls. Some street children live with friends or relatives.

Street children are often lonely and depressed. Many drop out of school by the age of 16 because, due to their lack of guidance and resources, they are considered academically retarded. Street children are also commonly diagnosed with ADD. The children who do stay in school are often inattentive and sleepy in class due to their lack of adequate sleep and poor nutrition.

Many of the children fight dangerous addictions to drugs and alcohol. They also face high teen pregnancy rates along with STDs and self-destructive behavior. Some reoccuring ailments that homeless children face are minor skin problems, respiratory tract infections, and gastronomical tract problems.

Also, many street children face problems related to mental health. These problems often go untreated and can result in suicide.

The physical health issues result from, long exposure to the elements, lack of sleeping quarters, absence of a clean home.

Younger street children are used / recruted by criminals who are involved in the illegal drug trade, prostitution,and pornography. The cildren are either active participants or recruiters of other young children.

Some reasons children are forced to live on the street include economic recessions, high housing costs, and the inability of their parents to find jobs. They are usually put out on the street along with their parents where the families are often seperated.

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"boys gather to sniff glue. Among other things it alleviates hunger." []