Fluorosis- An Emerging Health Problem in the Rural Parts of Bankura District , West Bengal, India: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Prasanta Sinha Mahapatra; Suman Chatterjee; Pranab Biswas; Pinaki Sarkar

Volume : V, Issue : VI, June - 2016

Fluorosis- An Emerging Health Problem in the Rural Parts of Bankura District , West Bengal, India: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Prasanta Sinha Mahapatra, Suman Chatterjee, Pranab Biswas, Pinaki Sarkar

Abstract :

 Fluorosis is an important public health problem in 24 countries, including India. This cross-sectional observational study has been conducted in the fluoride endemic zones of Bankura district to evaluate the current status of fluorosis in the rural part of Bankura district and its impact. This study was carried out in the 3 blocks of Bankura, namely Simlapal, Taldangra, and Hirbandh, having 144 villages on1999 subjects out of 2.79 lakh population by using stratified random sampling. The urine samples were collected from the subjects and urinary fluoride level was estimated by Ion-Meter. In the years 2013-15, 1999 subjects were studied, out of which 329 (16.46%),32 (1.60%) and 158(7.90%) subjects were found positive for dental, skeletal and non-skeletal fluorosis respectively. This study revealed that school going children were more affected in dental flourosis than adults and males are more affected than females in all forms of flourosis.