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underestimi~te because it excluded DALY lost to conditions that had their onset In
infancy and conditions tliat may arise subsequently due to health related behavior
during scholl age. The DALY lost were 53.0% from communicable diseases, 28.0%
from non communicable diseases and 18.0% from injuries (Bundy and Guyatt,1996).
Neuropsychiatric disorders were also important causes of DALY loss in school age
children. Some of the other causes are accidents, respiratory disorders, acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
Though malnutrition and infections still remain as important causes of morbidity In
developing countries, problems such as substance abuse and suicide are also seen In
them. The latter two arise with urban migration, increased unemployment and
disruption of traditional soclal structure which are lncreaslng In develop~ng countries
(Blum,1991~.
The predominant health problems in school age children in developed countries are
different from those in the developing countries. Some of the problems :re related to
rapid growth and development. The period between 10-15 years of age forms the early
or young adolescent period and is generally clubbed with the adolescent perlod.
Young adolescents fall ill more often than older adolescents. The common illnesses as
seen in a hospital survey in the United States Of America are respiratory illness
(21.0%) followed by injuries and poisoning (16.0%; Litt,1996). A school survey In the
Unlted Kingdom also revealed that children suffered from headaches, dental problems,
respiratory infections, skin, eye and welght problems. More than these physical
allments they suffer from a variety of psycho-social disorders, drug abuse, truancy and
sleep problems (Macfarlane et al,1987; Oppong and Meycock,1997, Blader el a1.,1997,
Berg,19Q7). Another study, also from the Unlted Kingdom, showed that the prevalence