Position of the American Dietetic Association: nutrition services for children with special health care needs.

The phrase "children with special health care needs" covers a group of children with a broad range of chronic illnesses and handicapping conditions. Estimates of their prevalence in the child population range from 10% to 20%. Despite improvements in meeting their complex needs, major gaps in services exist, particularly those related to nutritional support, a crucial factor needed for these children to achieve their maximum potential.