HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4472, 27 September 1922, Page 1

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

RESULTS OF MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. REPORT BY DIRECTOR OF HYGIENE. "A! total of 1452 schools have been inspected during the year, and this number, includes all the larger primary schools in the Dominion,” states the- annual report of the director of the Division of School Hygiene (Dr. E. H. Wilkins,). •‘Statistical returns have been- sent in relating to the complete examination of 58,451 school children. In addition, between fifty thousand and sixty thousand children have been examined for the more important defects, records-pf which have now been tabulated statistically. Those tio whom the following percentages refer include children of all ages in the primary schools, .with a predominance of those pf the earlier school-going years. The percentages are based upon the combined returps of the staff, but it should be borne in mind that as some of the figures are to an extent dependent, upon individual judgment, the percentages given should therefore be taken as broad indications rather than exact estimates. **

“Of the children examined 85.6 per cent, were returned as having medical defect of some kind. The proportion of children found to have defects other than dental caries is 56,8 per cent. It should be mentioned that this figure is not of great value for comparison with other countries', as there is no internationally recognised standard as to what should be included in the category of medical defect. The standard adopted by school medical officers in New Zealand is higfli. •’lmpaired nutrition was found present in 5.76 peri cent. A verminous condition of the hair was present in 2.3 per cent., and skin disease in 2.66 per cent. Less than 1 per cent, show:ed signs of abnormality of the heart, and a proportion of these cases would not be of a serious nature.

“Deformity of the trunk and chest was recorded in 25 per cent, of the children examined. Even allowing for a proportion of the cases of postural and structural defect being of a slight degree, and not incompatible with robust, health, I think that their occurrence to the extent .of 25 per cent, is a matter which should not be regarded lightly. “Faulty development of the jaws, as manifested in irregularity and crowding of the teeth in narrowness of the jaws and high arching of the palate, was recorded in’9.lB per. cent. This faulty development of the jaws appears to be on the increase amongst the more civilised communities of the world, and, along with the chest deformities already referred to, should be viewed with concern. ;

“DentaJ decay has beep recorded in 67.37 per cent, of the children examined, but it should .be pointed out that this figure refers only to those children with untreat.ed decay, and does" not include those whose mouths have received adequate treatment by fillings or extractions. A truer estirmate of the prevalence of dental decay is given by a consideration Of the percentage of children having perfect sets of teeth—Le., with no decay, no extractions, and no fillings—complete naturally sound sets- It is too soon to be able to state this figure with precision, but it is probably well below 5 per cent, for, children within the primary school age period. “Obstructed nasal breathing, associated in the majority of cases with adenoids, was reported in 3.7 percent. This figure refers only t.o those cases in' .which there'was evidence at the time of the examination of an appreciable degree of obstruction being present, and does not, of course, give any idea of the prevalence of catarrhal trpuble associated with adepoids. “Enlargement of the tonsils was recorded in 13 per cent.; and, while it is probably true that any degree of enlargement is abnormal, yet a. portion only of tliese cases would call for radical treatment. Enlarged glands in the neck—due in the majority of cases to septic absorption from decayed teeth; adenoids, and unhealthy tonsils—was recorded in 10.4 per cent

“Taking the figures for all districts, the percentage for goitre is 7.7 per cent. As the prevalence of goitre varies enormously in different districts, this figure 'has little meaning without comparative- returns for each, locality. It would, however, be misleading to publish, such figures until arrangements can be made for a more exact standard of examination, as the estimates of different medical officers would not, be truly comparative so long as the differences in individual judgment and method are an appreciable factpri.

“External eye-(disease was present in 1 per cent, of cases; consisting chiefly of inflammatory conditions of the eyelids. Defective vision was detected in 4 per cent, of those examined, which is undoubtedly an underestimate of the actual defect, existing, as in the case bi children of the primer classes (who formed a large proportion of those examined and in, whom defective vision is not so common) it is rarely practicable to test vision systematically. In the records of the examination 'of children of Standard. II in previous years 10 per cent, have been noted as suffering from defective vision.

“Defective hearing 'has been recorded in less than 1 per cent, of cases; the actual prevalence of impaired hearing is probably higher, as it has not always been practicable to apply an accurate test for the detection of the slighter degrees of deafness. "One of the most, important chan-

nels of educative reform is unquestionably the teaching given to the children in schools. Talks on health' are to the children by school medical officers, but without the wholehearted co-operation of the teachers little permanent good can be effected. ,Tt is upon the more continuous influence and personal example of the schoolteacher that we must mainly, rely to bring about real and lasting} improvement in habit and out-.

look in regard to matters of healthy * living. , , “Instead of being an isolated subject the teaching of health should be ’ interwoven with the whole education • of the child. Its practical bearing ‘ can be brought out in the schoolroom, : the playground; the athletic field, and the results of its maintenance or loss can be illustrated from history, in fact, the cultivation of health can be made a valuable means as well; as an

end in itself in education. A revision, however, of the present education syllabus relating to hygiene is urgently needed as being the basis oi the subject as far as the schools are concerned.