The NIH says there are some improvements for American children. For illnesses such as AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and tuberculosis, have been better controlled with vaccines, antibiotics, and improved hygiene. Infant mortality has decreased by 90 percent. Life expectancy has nearly doubled.

And yet, the rise in other conditions have alarmed the medical community.

Dr. Timothy Holder, Maternal and Family Practice Associates Inc., said physicians and researchers are grappling with the issue.

“There is a lot of concern in the medical profession, and a lot of articles are being published,” Holder said. “There is a lot of information looking at children’s health.”

Holder gave an overview of what he has seen in his practice.

“Probably what I see more of is obesity and asthma; autism I refer to a specialist,” he said. “With obesity, a lot of studies have been done that show a lot of factors affect why children become obese. Why we eat, what types of foods are available, and activity levels.”

Holder talked about the healthy diet typical in Asia and what happens when an Asian person changes lifestyle.

“Studies of families coming from Asia who adopt the typical American diet show that after two or three years, their health status goes to that of a non-Asian person in terms of risk factors,” he said.

Muskogee pediatrician Dr. Mike Stratton also has noticed the trends in obesity.

“During the 15 years I’ve been in practice, I’ve seen twice as many obese children over that period of time,” he said. “Obesity increases are associated with lifestyle changes; young people are not moving around like they used to. They have a more sedentary lifestyle.”

Stratton said low-income people also are at risk for something called “food insecurity.”

“Food insecurity for a family with limited or inadequate resources will result in a situation where they don’t acquire appropriate foods,” he said. “That’s been going on since 1998. It forces people to buy less nutritious food.”

Then, there is asthma and the search for its cause or causes.

“I’m seeing more children with asthma, and sometimes it’s difficult to treat,” Holder said. “A child with asthma also misses more school and can fall behind academically. Why we have more asthma in children we believe is connected to the environmental pollution outside as well as inside our homes. There are airborne environmental irritants like chemicals, dust mites and animal dander.”

Dr. Stanley Handshy, in family practice in Tahlequah, said it is clear that the incidence of childhood asthma has been increasing significantly.