Advertisement

News

Almost 370 Children Hospitalised For Anorexia And Bulimia Since 2016

Nearly 370 children were hospitalised for anorexia or bulimia over the past three years. According t...
Newsroom
Newsroom

12:23 PM - 13 Sep 2019



Almost 370 Children Hospitalis...

News

Almost 370 Children Hospitalised For Anorexia And Bulimia Since 2016

Newsroom
Newsroom

12:23 PM - 13 Sep 2019



Nearly 370 children were hospitalised for anorexia or bulimia over the past three years.

According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, there was an increase of 42 percent between 2016 and 2018.

The HSE says eating disorders, especially anorexia, have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses.

Patients with these disorders tend to have the longest admission in hospitals.

Though eating disorders can happen at all ages, they're most common among the young population.

90 children under 16 had inpatient stays in Irish hospitals for anorexia or bulimia in 2016.

This rose to 145 in 2017.

Last year 132 children had a principal diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia when they were discharged from hospital.

There were admissions across the country, but across the three years, 148 children were treated in Dublin's three children's hospitals.

The HSE says early intervention in eating disorders is key and outpatient specialist care is the most effective treatment.

 

 

 



You might like