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The Medical State of Pre-school Children Health oversight of pre-school children is achieved in three ways: through Plunket Clinics, where the departmental medical officer works with the Plunket Nurse ; through pre-school clinics on school premises ; and at kindergartens ; the last two types of clinics being attended by departmental doctors and District Nurses. Number of children seen .. .. .. .. .. -. .. 7,121 Number of defects found— Number. Per Cent. Anaemia .. .. .. .. -- .. 599 8-41 Uncleanliness .. .. .. .. .. 20 0-28 Subnormal nutrition .. .. .. .. .. 541 7• 59 Protuberant abdomen.. .. .. .. .. 183 2-56 Posture defective .. .. .. .. -. 167 2-34 Deformities— Chest .. .. .. •• .. 117 1-64 Legs .. .. .. .. •• .. 531 7-45 . Feet .. .. .. .. .. .. 670 9-40 Skin-diseases .. .. .. .. .. .. 288 4-04 Heart: Organic disease .. .. .. .. .. 59 0-82 Lungs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 65 0-91 Dental— Gums and soft tissues .. .. .. .. 42 0-58 Dental caries .. .. .. .. .. 1,210 16*99 Nose and throat— Adenoids .. .. .. .. .. .. 237 3-32 Tonsils .. .. .. .. .. .. 714 10-02 Goitre .. .. .. .. . - .. .. 19 0*26 EyesExternal disease .. .. .. .. .. 64 0• 89 Defective vision .. .. .. .. .. 38 0-53 Ears— Otorrhoea .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 0-24 Deafness .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 0-21 Phimosis .. .. .. .. .. .. 33 0-46 Undescended testicles .. .. .. .. .. 124 1 •74 Hernia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 o*so Habit abnormalities — Bad food habits .. .. .. .. .. 568 7-97 Other bad habits .. .. .. .. .. 326 4-58 Bowel action abnormality .. .. .. .. 93 1 • 30 Eneuresis .. .. .. .. .. 350 4-92 Insufficient daytime rest .. .. .. .. 345 4-84 Insufficient sleep .. .. .. .. .. 249 3-49 In the pre-school children there is a welcome trend in better nutrition, 7-59 per cent, subnormal, as compared with the previous year, 8-80 per cent. That there is still wrong feeding in pre-school children is confirmed by the 8-41 per cent, of anaemia found. Poor posture has improved from the 4-71 per cent, in 1946 to 2*34 per cent., and this is probably a reflection of the improved nutrition and sleep and rest figures. There is a reduction in skin-diseases to 3-52 per cent, from 5*07 per cent, in 1946. There is far too much dental caries in this age group. It is imperative to keep the first teeth in good order if well-spaced good second sets are wanted, hence there is urgent need for the speeding-up of dental-clinic coverage of the pre-school child. There is a welcome bad habits from last year's figures, bad food habits falling from 10-01 per cent, to 7-97 per cent, this year, and other behaviour abnormalities from 6-74 per cent, to 4*58 per cent. There is also improvement in adequate daytime rest, insufficiency of same being 4-84 per cent., as against 5*04 per cent., in 1946, and in night-time sleep, admitted lack of same falling from 4-43 per cent, in 1946 to 3-49 per cent, this year. Environment influences the pre-school child's welfare and makes the parents' task more difficult. Dr. Buchler reports A noticeable finding in the pre-school medical examination was the association of bad housing conditions —overcrowding, living in flats, &c. —with complaints of anorexia, lassitude, constipation, and behaviour problems. The children receive inadequate fresh air, exercise, and rest, and the multiple control exercised where families are living with grandparents is responsible for many psychological problems.

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