Kids not in pink of health

YAMUNANAGAR: Students of junior classes of Yamunagar district are not quite healthy. A health survey conducted by the health department covering all 619 government primary schools of this district reveals that 63,230 students of the total 67,270 studying in these schools are suffering from one or the other disease.
The highest 38,809 students have been found to be suffering from anaemia.The number of students, suffering from moderate anaemia (haemoglobin level between 5-10 gram) is the highest with 29,612 sufferers. As many as 86 students were found to be suffering from severe anemia (haemoglobin level below 5 gram).
Normal haematological level varies with age and sex. According to medical experts, haemoglobin level below 11 gram in children between 6 months to 6 years or below 12 gram in older children means that they are anaemic. Haemoglobin level below 5 gram indicates sever anaemia, while those who have haemoglobin between 5-10 gram sufferer from moderate anaemia.
“Pallor is the major symptom. The onset of anaemia is often insidious. Children do not grow well, appear off-colour and are easily fatigued. They suffer from frequent infections. Spleen is enlarged in about 15% of cases. Severe anaemia leads to cardiac enlargement, systolic and even diastolic flow murmurs,” said SMO at Yamunanagar’s Civil Hospital and pediatrician, Dr Vijay Dahiya. Dr Dahiya said that daily iron requirement in the first year of life is 5 to 7 mg. In childhood, 10 mg of elemental iron is required every day. Children fed purely on a milk diet are prone to develop anaemia.
To prevent anaemia, supplementary foods, especially rich in iron should be administered to the child from 4 months of age. Pulses, beans, peas, green leafy vegetables are fairly good sources of iron, he said. The survey reveals that 24,421 students were found to be suffering from various other problems including night blindness, skin disease, heart disease, hearing and speech impairment, besides malnutrition. Many students were found to be suffering from multiple diseases.