ABSTRACT
In paediatrics, prevention is even more important than in other areas of medicine because of the impact that illness has on children’s social life and achievement. Chronic illness has a major effect on educational attainment, and disability can entirely constrain a child’s life chances. Prevention is also of proven effectiveness, and the means are well established. Yet still prevention in child health does not have the high profile in the UK which is conferred on it in other countries in Europe, in particular in Scandinavia. Prevention is best integrated with a curative approach, although
the most effective preventive measures of all are outside the responsibility of the health sector (e.g. improvement in housing quality).
