Professional disease

Environment and health-related problems Water-soluble chrome(VI) compounds in the wet cement or mortar have a highly sensitising effect and are up to 90% the cause of allergic cement dermatitis (cement eczema, bricklayer s itch ). The high alkalinity (pH = 13) of cement aids the development of this contact eczema. Bricklayer s itch is one of the most frequent professional diseases in the construction industry. 

PENKA DIMITROVA GATSEVA Department of Hygiene and Ecomedicine, Professional Diseases and Toxicology, Medical University, 15a Vassil Aprilov Street, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria... 

V.V. Paustovskaya. Main conclusions of experimental investigations of toxicology of atmospheric corrosion inhibitors. Hygiene of labor and professional diseases, 1990, No. 3, pp. 7-9. 

A key factor is the potential risk that a worker may suffer a professional disease which is clearly related to exposure to a specific chemical and that the disease is linked to the particular conditions of the work. Health surveillance is especially necessary for those chemicals which have a binding occupational exposure limit. 

From the above table (Tab. 1) it is evident that professional diseases caused by lead or its compounds... 

When a worker develops a skin disease, the occupational physician must verify whether it is a professional disease or not, and, in this respect, he must acquire some information - in particular ... 

Occupational problems with topically applied local anesthetics, particularly ester derivatives, have been known for many years (Altomare et al. 1992). Contact allergy to procaine used to be a typical professional disease of dentists due to direct handling (Kanerva et al. 1994). Other affected professions include ophthalmologists and veterinary surgeons. There is an extensive cross-reactivity between all p-amino benzoic acid derivatives, such as procaine, benzocaine and tetracaine, but not to amide derivatives, such as lidocaine. Since the less allergenic amide local anesthetics are used today, the number of occupational cases has declined. The intravenous anesthetic propanidid, a derivative of eugenol (Castelain and Piriou 1980), has caused sensitization in anesthesists by direct and probably also airborne contact (Altomare et al. 1992). 

Alkylation of DNA, genetic material, can be at the origin of skin cancer. Examples are coal tar and the scrotal skin, first described in 1775 by Sir Percivall Pott as a professional disease. ... 

Most work accidents with this method happen due to falling blocks or contact with equipment and tools. As for professional diseases, these occur due to contact with hazardous chemicals (Tender, 2014). 

A number of building organizations and enterprises are working without any cases of occupational injuries. The number of professional diseases in construction has been considerably reduced including the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic there have been three cases. 

In recent years concerns have been raised in the popular press about possible side effects from the MMR vaccine, which is given to infants to guard against measles, mumps and rubella. Although this has led to a drop in the levels of vaccination, the advice from health professionals continues to be in favour of vaccination, because even if the claimed side effects were shown to be true, failure to vaccinate would still statistically pose the greater health risk due to the detrimental effects of the diseases themselves. 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts research on occupational diseases and injuries, responds to requests for assistance by investigating problems of health and safety in the workplace, recommends standards to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and trains professionals in occupational safety and health. Contact NIOSH, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201 Phone 800-356-4674 or NIOSH Technical Information Branch, Robert A. Taft Eaboratory, Mailstop C-19, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cinciimati, OH 45226-1998 Phone 800-35-NIOSH. 

The common causes of thyrotoxicosis are shown in Table 41-6.29,30 Thyrotoxicosis can be related to the presence or absence of excess hormone production (hyperthyroidism). Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Thyrotoxicosis in the elderly is more likely due to toxic thyroid nodules or multinodular goiter than to Graves disease. Excessive intake of thyroid hormone may be due to overtreatment with prescribed therapy. Surreptitious use of thyroid hormones also may occur, especially in health professionals or as a self-remedy for obesity. Thyroid hormones can be obtained easily without a prescription from health food stores or Internet sources. 

Exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is also a concern for women who are sexually active. It is estimated that 15 million people in the United States become newly infected annually with an STD.5 Given that not all methods of contraception protect the user adequately against STDs, the provision of proper patient education by health care professionals regarding this risk is absolutely essential. 

As discussed later in this chapter, contraindications exist for various forms of contraception. Patients must be evaluated completely by a health care professional to rule out any medical contraindications to certain contraceptives. The physical examination also will allow health care professionals to determine if there are other medical concerns, such as hypertension, diabetes, or liver disease, that need to be considered when determining the appropriate contraceptive agent. Clinicians also should review family history for potential risks with certain forms of birth control. 

Eschbach J, DeOreo PB, Adamson J, et al. NKF-K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines, National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-K/DOQI) 2000, 2005 available from www.kidney.org/professionals/kdoqi/ guidelines updates/doqi uptoc.html an. 

Baddour LM, Wilson WR, Bayer AS, et al. Infective endocarditis Diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, and management of complications a statement for healthcare professionals from the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Councils on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke, and Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, American Heart Association endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Circulation 2005 111(23) 394M34. 

TB skin testing with the 5-TU strength of brand purified protein derivative (PPD), also known as the Mantoux test, is the preferred method for skin testing.2,16,20 The product is injected into the skin (not subcutaneously) with a fine (27-gauge) needle and produces a small, raised, blanched wheal to be read by an experienced professional in 48 to 72 hours. Criteria for interpretation are listed in Table 72-1.1,2,6,16,20 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend the routine use of... 

Vaccination is one of the most powerful tools used to prevent disease. As with all drugs, most vaccines have been reported to cause adverse reactions. The reactions are either acute, such as local reactions, or are related to risk of developing another disease. Health care professionals are to give vaccine information sheets to individuals or caregivers prior to vaccination these provide information about the risks and benefits of each vaccine. 

Heat can be a problem for professional athletes both in training and at competition. Heat can also be a problem for other people like elderly people, people with some diseases and children. If the body-temperature can be reduced most people would feel more comfortable, perform better, be able to keep concentrate better and for a longer time and the risks of dehydration and fatigue is reduced. New products to address this problem were developed, such as wrist-cooler, a neck-cooler, a cap and a vest (Figure 166). All these... 

---