Doctors emphasised the need for screening children for renal problems at a programme organised as part of the ‘World Kidney Day' here on Thursday.
Speaking at a screening camp organised by Sri Ramachandra University (SRU) in collaboration with the Chennai Corporation, Vice-Chancellor of the university S.Rangaswami said since problems related to the kidney seldom manifested through clear symptoms, it was all the more important for students to be screened early enough.
Professor and head of SRU's Department of Nephrology, P. Soundararajan, said urine analysis of students at the time of school admission was necessary. “It should become a part of every school health screening programme. Early diagnosis can certainly bring down the cases of chronic renal problems,” he said.
On possible risks that school children were susceptible to, he said school-going children faced the risk of urinary track infections. “Students going to schools with poor toilet facilities may not use them and hold their urine for too long, which could have serious medical implications later,” he added.
Even one instance of a urinary track infection in children must prompt parents to consult the doctor for screening and urine analysis, he added.
SRU Dean of faculties K.V.Somasundaram said that protein leak was common among children and a urine test would help detect such problems.
Mayor M.Subramanian, who was the chief guest, said Chennai Corporation would consider introducing more health schemes, particularly for students, in its budget for 2010-11.
Over 50 children of the Corporation School in Alwarpet were screened at the camp and two were referred for further investigation and treatment, hospitals sources said.
