Evaluation of medical students' knowledge and their adherence to safety measures regarding solar ultraviolet exposure

Ultraviolet radiation, a type of electromagnetic radiation, can be released by both artificial and natural sources, including the sun. It is imperative to adopt the appropriate safety measures when close to an ultraviolet radiation source, as unprotected UV radiation exposure has been associated with a higher risk of developing various illnesses, such as skin tumors. This study aims to evaluate undergraduate medical students' knowledge of potential hazards from UV radiation exposure and their practice of safety measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Beyda City, Libya. One hundred and nine medical students were involved in this study. The questionnaire examined participants' knowledge of and behavior toward potential risks associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Notably, 77.1% of them were female, and 22.9% were male. The majority of the respondents were more than 22 years old. Above half, 59.6% showed moderate knowledge about UV exposure consequences; most of the students, 91%, knew the side effects of UV on health, followed by 86%, who indicated that UV can cause premature aging and cancer. In contrast, less than a third knew that UV has a negative impact on the immune system, and about two-thirds (73.9%) didn't realize that sunburn can occur even on a cloudy day. Although medical students showed a moderate level of knowledge regarding UV radiation, there was a lack of active sun safety measures

Potential benefits and harms of the use of UV radiation in transmission of tuberculosis in South African health facilities

The incidence and prevalence of transmitted Mycobacterium tuberculosis have risen very rapidly in modern society. Environmental control measure such as ultraviolet radiation has been introduced in various health care facilities. This preventative measure has been extensively explored in the medical, legislative and public forums. However, the guidelines and manufacturer's claims have created controversies, in terms of prevention of cross-transmission of M. tuberculosis in health care facilities. In this article, the authors reviewed the overall benefits and harms associated with the use of ultraviolet radiation in the prevention of M. tuberculosis transmission. The author concluded that there are still existing gaps in proving beyond any reasonable doubt that ultraviolet radiations absolutely prevent the spread of M. tuberculosis in South African health facilities

Les radiations solaires ultra-violettes et le paludisme a Bamako

Le paludisme est un probleme de sante publique dans les zones tropicales particulierement en Afrique au Sud du Sahara. Premiere cause de mortalite et morbidite au Mali; l'epidemiologie du paludisme est tributaire des determinants intrinseques (hote; le parasite; le vecteur) et des determinants extrinseques tels que la pluviometrie et l'humidite.. Jusqu'a present; aucune etude n'a ete faite pour evaluer l'impact d'autres facteurs tels que les radiations solaires sur les maladies infectieuses en general et le paludisme en particulier. C'est ainsi que nous avons etudie la relation entre les radiations solaires UV-B et le paludisme a Bamako entre Septembre 2000 et Octobre 2001. Nous avons observe des valeurs elevees des UV-B aux mois de Septembre et de Mars juste un mois apres; un grand pic de morbidite en Octobre et un petit pic au mois d'Avril. Les radiations etaient correlees a la pluviometrie et a la temperature de facon significative (Correlation de Pearson= -0;631 ; p=0;028 et Correlation de Pearson= 0;681 et p=0;015 respectivement). Nous n'avons pas trouve une relation statistiquement significative entre l'intensite des radiations UV-B et le paludisme (Correlation de Pearson= -0;529 et p=0;077) probablement du a un faible echantillonnage de nos malades. Les nuages etaient plus frequents pendant l'hivernage et pourraient attenuer les fortes intensites des UV-B observees entre Septembre et octobre

La cheilite actinique

La cheilite actinique est une affection potentiellement maligne de la levre (OMS 2007) due aux dommages de l'ADN cellulaire par une exposition prolongee aux rayons ultraviolets. Les facteurs de risque incluent le tabagisme; l'irritation de la levre ainsi qu'une hygiene bucco-dentaire inadequate. Cette affection est principalement observee chez les sujets de peau claire et est plus frequente chez les hommes. Cliniquement; la levre inferieure est le plus souvent atteinte. La cheilite se manifeste par une atrophie du rebord du vermillon de la levre inferieure avec un erytheme persistant. Des ulcerations et des fissures peuvent egalement etre notees. L'examen histologique confirme le diagnostic en revelant les remaniements caracteristiques : Hyperkeratose; elastose solaire. Dans les stades avances; induration et nodule peuvent etre constates ce qui justifie une biopsie pour ecarter une degenerescence maligne. A travers ce travail; nous mettrons le point sur cette lesion ainsi que sur le role du medecin dentiste dans la prise en charge; le suivi et la prevention