Treatment and follow-up of morbidity detected in medical camps in a village
Hedge, G.R.; Patel, J.C.
Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 39(7): 159-171
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5359 PMID: 4044024 Document Number: 242504
1. Various medical camps like E.N.T., Opthalmology, Dermatology, Gynecology, Paediatrics and Geriatrics were held by Vasav Datta Foundation in Rita village in Thane district to assess health of individual rural person and to take individual remedial measures for the defects discovered. 2. Commonest findings in children were that of upper respiratory tract infection and malnutition. Tonsillectomy was done in 13 children. Milk was distributed freely to children below 6 years of age for a period of 3 years and parenteral Vit. 'D' given at intervals in view of early signs of rickets. 3. Symptoms like general weakness, tiredness, backache and abdominal pain were common in all the camps and these can be attributed to high prevalence of intestinal parasities (91.03%) and resultant anaemia. Wormifuge and haematinics were given on mass scale and there was improvement in general health of the people over a period of three years. 4. Prevalence of scabies was high in the village.sbd.73.89 of those who attended dermatology camp had scabies. Proper follow-up has resulted in appreciable reduction in incidence of scabies from 3% of total daily OPD attendance of the village in 1979 to 0.59% in two years. 5. 33.34% of patients who attended opthalmology camp had refractory errors and they were provided with suitable glasses.sbd.7 patients with mature catarct underwent operation for catarar and were rehabilitated. 6. From the geriatrics camp, it was noted that 47.44% persons over the age of 45 years had clinically detectable anaenia, 17.52% had hypertension, 7.3% chronic bronchitis. 7. Anaemia, intestinal parasitic infection and malnutrition are the major health problems in the villages.