The state of health of children living in adverse environmental conditions

The state of health of 4,078 children and the morbidity pattern among the child population in the Karkaraly district of the Karaganda region was studied as part of the screening to assess the impact of the ecological situation. The control group included 2,272 children, living in the Osakarov district of the Karaganda region (as the most ecologically favourable district). Screening cards were developed for the examination, which included questionnaire data, complaints, medical history, and physical examination data. The screening involved cardiologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, and other doctors. A number of necessary verifying laboratory and instrumental studies was carried out. Child morbidity in the Karakaly district exceeded that in the Osakarov district by several times in almost all cases. The diseases were found for the first time in more than 60 per cent of children. The prevailing classes among the studied diseases were pathologies of blood and hematopoietic organs, mental and behavioural disorders, respiratory and digestive diseases, congenital anomalies, deformations, and other pathologies. This is related to the negative impact of man-induced factors.
Source: Australasian Medical Journal - AMJ - Category: Journals (General) Source Type: research