Prevalence of URTI and growth retardation in government primary school children of Bangalore

ABSTRACT

Children are the important part of total community where school children constitute a large pool of children of this age group. Sickness is a major cause of school absenteeism and scholastic backwardness. To know the prevalence of URTI [Upper Respiratory Tract Infections]; and growth retardationin in children of Government primary school of Bangalore a one time observational cross sectional study was conducted in the three primary schools of Kottigepalya. 456 children were included in this study. A complete physical examination of the children was done and deviations from normal were recorded. A large number i.e. 69.96%, school children were found to be sick. The boys had better health status as compared to girls. The nutritional status of boys was better as compared to girls. The prevalent morbidities in the school children were enlarged tonsils [13.60%], tonsillitis [1.10%], nasal discharge [14.69%], otitis externa [1.75%], otitis media [1.54%] [URTIs], underweight [20.39%] and stunting [16.89%] [Growth retardation]. Main emphasis should be given to health education, nutrition education apart from the regular educational activities in the school