Back to school in UAE: 75% of students have vitamin D deficiency, eye problems, say hospitals

Some UAE hospitals, including those offering free health check-ups ahead of the school reopening, have reported 70 to 75 per cent students being deficient in vitamin D and having vision-related problems. A good few have gained weight too.

Based on the lab results of 50 students who came for free check-ups in the past few days, Dr Dhanya P. Menon, specialist, pathologist, Abu Dhabi’s Phoenix Hospital, noted that three-fourth of the students didn’t have enough vitamin D in their bodies on account of minimal exposure to the sun.

“Vitamin D level above 30 ng/ml is considered acceptable. Anything between 20 ng/ml to 30 ng/ml is inadequate. And less than 20 ng/ml is deficient. Insufficient levels were expected as children weren’t going out during summer and leading a sedentary lifestyle but we found most of them having very low levels of vitamin D. More than 75 per cent of children were found to be deficient in vitamin D,” Dr Dhanya told Khaleej Times.

Echoing similar views, Dr Babitha Sudarsanan, specialist paediatrics, LLH Hospital, Musaffah, said that because of scorching summer heat, children stayed indoors and didn’t get the sunshine vitamin. “Vitamin D deficiency is common among children during summer season.”

According to official data, the mercury breached 50 degrees Celsius a couple of times this summer and has remained higher than 40 degrees for most days across the country. Dr Babitha pointed out an increase in cases of respiratory diseases because of hot and dusty weather.

“Rise in cases of respiratory infections is more than previous years. Moreover, viral fever is seen nowadays. These are the main problems that we have been seeing during the ‘Back to School’ free health check-up,” Dr Babitha said.

Fatigue, bone deformity, pain in back, muscle and joints, cramps, weakness, mood changes, depression are some of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Apart from exposure to sunlight, children should eat plant and animal-based foods like oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel, red meat, egg yolks, cod liver, fortified milk and cereals.

20-20-20 rule to protect eyes

Dr Ajay Sapra, specialist in ophthalmology in Ahalia Hospital, Mussafah, underlined that the number of cases of refractive error – a common eye disorder, has increased leading to children needing glasses.

“During consultations, we are observing that digital eye strain also known as computer vision syndrome is becoming very common among children mainly because of excess use of gadgets like laptops, mobile phones and TV. Refractive errors have increased with children suffering from myopia (nearsightedness). Such cases have surged a lot. It’s up to 7 out of 10 children in OPD (outpatient department) reaching up to 70 per cent. They will need glasses or contact lenses to correct their refractive error. The glasses have anti-reflective coating, which will prevent digital eye strain.”

Dr Sapra recommended 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain among children and adults.

“After using the digital screen for 20 minutes, you should take a break for 20 seconds and look at a distance of about 20 feet away,” Dr Sapra noted that people can also blink 20 times, which will help tear spread across the eye and prevent dryness.

Weight gain remains a problem

Doctors have noted a common pattern of up to 40 per cent children being overweight, which they pointed out as not alarming but a cause of concern.

Dr Meenakshi Sesama, specialist paediatrics, Aster Clinic, Al Barsha, Dubai, said the most notable problems seen among children are weight gain, vision and deficiency of certain vitamins.

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