Inculcate hygiene habits in your kids if you do not want them to visit an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) surgeon or any other specialist for stomach related problems.
The school health programme data compiled for the year 2010-2011 shows that Ahmedabad kids tops the state in ENT and stomach related problems.
More than 1.5 crore school students were checked under the school health programme in 2010-11. District-wise numbers of students having different ailments have also been indicated.
Public health experts say non-serious ailments like stomachache and problems related to ENT may be linked to hygiene and children's food habits.
Of the total 87,124 students diagnosed with ENT related problems, 15,221 students, which is 17% of the total students diagnosed, are from schools within the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) limits. It includes private schools as well.
Similarly, of 65,472 students diagnosed with stomach related problems, 7,559 (or 11.5%) are from schools within the city limits.
Officials in the state health department indicate that the food and hygiene habits of the kids may be one of the reasons behind these complaints. An official said, "Junk food and not enough fibre in the diet, along with poor personal hygiene, can lead to stomachache and other digestion and ENT related complaints. This might be a reason for having a major chunk of students in the city being diagnosed with such complaints."
AMC medical health officer Dr Suhas Kulkarni said, "I believe that out of the number of children examined in the state, majority belonged to Ahmedabad. We should not see the absolute figures, but a proper base should be considered for comparison. Due to this, the percentage of affected children from Ahmedabad out of the total diagnosed children is important."
Speaking on the preventive steps, Dr Kulkarni said AMC is planning to conduct a School Health Education in municipal schools of the city to promote personal hygiene and sanitation.
"We have also started creating awareness among mothers so that their children remain healthy, for which we also took the help of anganwadi workers," he said.
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