Tooth decay, lice infestation, and colds were among the health concerns faced by elementary school students in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

During the National Kickoff of DepEd’s Oplan Kalusugan (OK sa DepEd), education spokesperson Michael Poa cited students’ health concerns based on the school health division’s data.

He said the top health concern of students was dental caries or tooth decay at 80.1 percent, it was followed by pediculosis or lice infestation at 32.2 percent, and colds at 28 percent.

Also among the learners' health concerns include cough at 22.5 percent, impacted cerumen or earwax buildup at 10.5 percent, pale conjunctiva at 7.8 percent, and tinea flava at 4.4 percent.

Other health concerns are minor injuries at 2 percent, cervical lymphadenopathy or abnormal enlargement of lymph nodes at 0.9 percent, and skin allergies at 0.3 percent.

Poa noted that the data recorded is subject to change as the department needs to update it from time to time.

“Of course for the past two years, karamihan ay hindi din pumasok sa paaralan. But based on the records, ito ang usual na karamdaman na namo-monitor ng ating schools,” he added.

The Education spox also stressed that the department prioritized not only students’ physical health but also their mental health.

“That is also why when we opened our schools in August 22, sinigurado natin na meron tayong psychosocial support para ipakita na handa talaga ang ating mga learners sa pagbabalik sa schools lalong lalo na marami sa kanila ang hindi nakipag-halobilo sa ibang learners,” he said.

Poa said DepEd also has mental health programs launched under the ‘Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd’ and it is conducting assessments of students’ mental health status every year.