CUHK Releases Results of 'Survey on Toddler Health in ...( HONG KONG May 25 Asia/ -- The gen...),Health

HONG KONG, May 25 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The general health of toddlers in the SAR has room for improvement, according to a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). At a news conference today to announce the results, a researcher from CUHK as well as a leading Hong Kong paediatrician and a registered dietician all agreed that, based on the survey, many Hong Kong children under three years old are deficient in areas such as mental and physical development, respiratory and gastrointestinal health, and immune system development. Diet was named a critical tool for improving toddler health.

Conducted with over 1,103 families in Hong Kong, "A Survey on Toddler Health in Hong Kong" explored the most common health issues affecting youngsters under the age of three. Topics include common but preventable respiratory and gastrointestinal distress; developmental benchmarks and the importance of nutrition in helping meet them; eating habits; and chronic health problems.

    The survey revealed a number of surprising results:

    -- Nearly 90% (88.6%) of toddlers have visited the doctor for health
       issues over the past six months -- with- some visiting as many as 20
       times
    -- 50% of toddlers see doctors because of respiratory illness, such as
       cold, flu and runny nose
    -- 26.5% of toddlers frequently (7.0%) or sometimes (19.5%) have bowel
       difficulties
    -- 10.7% of toddlers frequently (0.8%) or sometimes (9.9%) have diarrhea
    -- 26.5% of toddlers frequently (10.1%) or sometimes (16.4%) have eczema
    -- On average, Hong Kong toddlers begin to walk at 12.3 months

Among toddlers who cannot speak in complete sentences now, 5.9% are older than 24 months, while others were not walking at 12 months, as are typically the benchmarks. Nearly 40% (39%) of toddlers still need to be fed at
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