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annual ~nc~dence being 6211,000 children. There was no s~gn~f~cant difference In the
incidence Of any Of Me above disorders between the genders except headache, the
~nc~dence of wh~ch was higher in boys (p < 0.05)
The mean duration of fever was 1.9(i1.64) days, respiratory infect~on 2.9(+ 0.8l)days.
headache 1.1(+0.44)days, abdominal palni.l(N.49) days and diarrheal disorders
1.4(fl.79) days. The mean duration of illness in girls and boys were compared and no
s~gnlficant difference was observed (p > 0.05, Table 5.26).
As regards seasonal distribution the overall incidence of all illnesses was h~gher In the
prernonsoon (July-September) and monsoon (October-December) months, when
compared with the postmonsoon (January-March) and summer (April-June) months
(Table 5.27)
(iii) VHN and PHC records
During the period of 1 year from January,l996 to December,l996. 578 ~nd~nduals
recelved treatment from the VHN for some illness or the other. Of these, there were 35
glrls and 52 boys between 5-15 years of age. Illness in school age children thus
accounted for 15.0% of the total illnesses treated by the VHN. The main illnesses
recorded in this group were respiratory infection in 48.6% glrls and 51.9% boys, and
diarrheal disorders observed in 40.0% girls and 30.8O/0 boys. Other illnesses seen in
them were chicken pox (n=2), myalgia (n=2), headache (n=3), injury (n=4), tooth ache
(n=l) and ear ache (n=l). No significant difference was observed in the proportion Of
girls and boys falling ill (p > 0.05). Most of the illnesses (52 episodes; 59.8%) occurred
n the premonsoon months (July- September, Table 5.27). The PHC records showed
+at out of an average daily attendance of 146 patients, 21.2% were in school age.