Prevalence of URTI and Growth Retardation in Government Primary School Children of Bangalore

Abstract

Children are an important part of the total community. 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 and growth retardation in children of Government Primary Schools of Bangalore, a one-time observational cross-sectional study was conducted in three primary schools of Kottigepalya, Bangalore. Four hundred and fifty-six children were included in the study. A complete physical examination of the children was done and deviations from normal were recorded. A large number, 69.96%, school children were found to be sick. The boys had better health status as compared to girls. The nutritional status of the 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 (growth retardation) (16.89%). Main emphasis should be given to health education, nutrition education apart from the regular educational activities in the school.