The Pediatric Nephrology Department at the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), located in Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, has started a pilot project to screen school children for kidney-related diseases.
According to a media report,, doctors will visit schools in Ahmedabad to screen students aged 12 to 14 years. In the first phase, around 1,800 students from government, grant-in-aid, and private schools will be tested directly at their schools.
The screening will include basic checks like height and weight, along with a dipstick urine test. For this test, a small urine sample is collected, and a strip is dipped into it for about 30 seconds to check for infections or other signs of kidney problems.
If any issues like bacteria or signs of infection are found, students and their parents will be advised to visit the hospital for further check-ups. Doctors will also ask students questions about their water intake and toilet habits.
This screening is being carried out with approval from the District Education Officer (DEO), and schools have received official circulars about it.
Depending on the results and success of this pilot, the project may be expanded to include more students and younger age groups.
Dr. Pranjal Modi, Director of IKDRC, said that kidney diseases are becoming more common in children. Issues like kidney stones, blocked valves, single kidney, or non-working kidneys are now seen in around 20% of children per 10 million. Early screening, he said, can help catch problems before they become serious.