Hurricane Katrina Children Sick

A new report released November 24 states that children from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita have serious physical and mental health ailments. The study, conducted by the New York based Children’s Health Fund reviewed the medical records of 261 children from a trailer park in Baton Rouge (children who were displaced from the hurricanes).

What is most alarming is that 41% of the children under four had iron-deficiency anemia, 55% of elementary aged students had behavior or learning problems, 42% had allergic rhinitis,, and 24% had upper respiratory and allergic skin ailments.

The question is; is this a problem with natural disaster displacement or with income? If guardians are having a difficult time getting back on their feet then how can they sufficiently afford food, vitamins, and health care?

Additionally, the trailers and mobile homes used for the temporary housing have been found to contain high levels of toxins including formaldehyde.