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Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of Secondary Prevention?
Which of the following best describes Tertiary Prevention?
What is the purpose of Personal Protective Devices in prevention?
In developing countries, what is identified as a major cause of disability and ill health?
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Which type of occupational dermatoses is associated with photosensitization?
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What is the target organ damaged by xenobiotics or their metabolites?
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'Chloracne' is an example of what type of occupational dermatoses?
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Study Notes
Occupational Diseases
- The US experiences over 2 million permanent or temporary disabilities from various causes each year.
- Approximately 400,000 new cases of disabling occupational illnesses occur every year, resulting in 100,000 deaths.
- Globally, 10 million occupational disease cases occur annually, with higher rates in developing countries.
- In the US, an estimated 140 workers die from work-related diseases daily.
Major Categories of Occupational Illness
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Respiratory disorders
- Neurologic and psychiatric disorders
- Skin disorders
- Reproductive and development disorders
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Hematologic disorders
- Hepatic disorders
- Renal and urinary disorders
Definition and Characteristics
- Occupational diseases are caused by work or work environment.
- Work-related diseases are initiated or facilitated by work.
- Occupational diseases occur among workers exposed to specific hazards.
- They can also affect the general community due to environmental contamination.
- These diseases are caused by the interaction of several extrinsic risk factors.
- Work conditions can aggravate pre-existing diseases, such as hepatic dysfunction, bronchial asthma, and renal disease.
Differences between Occupational Disease and Work-Related Diseases
- Occupational diseases occur mainly among working populations, whereas work-related diseases occur largely in the community.
- Occupational diseases have specific exposure at the workplace, whereas work-related diseases may have multifactorial origins.
- Occupational diseases are notifiable and compensable, whereas work-related diseases may not be.
Costs of Occupational and Work-Related Diseases
- Recognizing occupational disease depends on the occupational history.
The Occupational History
- Description of all jobs held
- Work exposures
- Timing of symptoms
- Epidemiology of symptoms or illness among other workers
- Non-work exposures and other factors
- Job description/nature of job
- Hours of work/shift work
- Types of hazards
- Past occupation
- Other jobs
- Domestic exposures
- Hobbies
- Do other workers have a similar illness?
- Relationship of illness to period away from work
Additional Information in Occupational History
- Smoking/alcohol intake/drugs
- Similar complaints among other workers
- Time relationship between work and symptoms
- Degree of exposure
- Use of protective devices
- Methods of materials handling
Screening for Occupational Disease
- Screening approach:
- History: questionnaire
- Physical examination
- Tests: chest x-ray, pulmonary function test, biologic monitoring, audiometry
Preventing Occupational Disease
- Measures applied to the process or workplace:
- Substitution of a non-hazardous substance for a hazardous one
- Installation of engineering controls and devices
- Job redesign, work organization changes, and work practice alternatives
- Measures primarily directed toward the worker:
- (not specified in the text)
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Description
Learn about the various components of an occupational history, including job description, types of hazards, past occupations, domestic exposures, and more. Understand how factors such as smoking, alcohol intake, and drugs can play a role in occupational health. Explore the relationship between work and symptoms, degree of exposure, and time-related aspects in occupational history.
