A recent medical screening conducted by the doctors on the Corporation school students has revealed that the students suffer more from dental caries and worm infestation.
According to P. Aruna, City Health Officer, the test conducted in June this year, at the start of the academic year, has revealed that 1,093 students suffer from dental caries – tooth decay, in common parlance – and another 1,377 students suffer from worm infestation.
A second screening test conducted in July for another set of students has only reinforced the findings of the first test in that 1,300 students suffer from dental caries and 2,809 students suffer from worm infestation. The Corporation doctors screened primary, middle, high and higher secondary school students – both boys and girls.
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Following the high prevalence of dental caries and worm infestation, the civic body has asked the doctors to conduct awareness programme for students and also teachers. “The doctors have told the students, teachers and through them the parents on what the students need to do to get the two health problems treated. They also gave medicines, wherever necessary.” In cases where the students need to be referred to a hospital for advanced medical care the doctors ensure that the teachers inform the parents and the students are taken to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
There are two such cases where the students suffer from heart ailments.
The doctors, assisted by the urban health nurses, maintain a medical record of the students for a follow-up they will conduct after three months. Dr. Aruna says that the doctors will conduct the medical test thrice during an academic year.
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The doctors screened students for anaemia, jaundice, impetigo, scabies, leprosy, eyes and visual acuity, refractive error, vitamin ‘A’ deficiency, conjunctivitis, squint, oral cavity, cleft lip and many others.