Prevalence of byssinosis at Paleik textile mill

A survey was conducted among the cotton workers of the Paleik Textile Mill in Burma in order to detect any evidence of Byssinosis. Altogether 1249 workers who were exposed to cotton dust were studied. They included workers from the Spinning' Weaving and Finishing Departments of the mill. The examination of each worker included a history, a questionaire of respiratory svmptoms and a clinical examination. Those workers with respiratory symptoms were further interviewed more closely with special emphasis on the typical symptoms of Byssinosis. Pulmonary function analysis (PEFR, FEVI, FVC, FEVI/FVC), skin allergen tests and chest x-rays were performed on all workers with a suggestive history of Byssinosis.The total prevalence rate of Byssinosis at the Paleik Textile Mill is 1.8 per cent. The occupational groups most affected are the card-room workers, the spinners and the bale pressers. The condition is detected only in workers who have been exposed to cotton dusts for at least four years. There is no association with chronic bronchitis or other respirator diseases.

Study on relative values of history physical examination and investigations in final diagnosis of medicial in patients in Mandalay General Hospital

A study was done on 84 newly admitted medical cases, at Mandalay General Hospital from 3.8.76 to 3.9.76. In 71 (88.7 per cent) out of 84 patients, the diagnosis after history taking was the same as that of the Final Diagnosis. In 66(82.5 per cent), the "diagnosis made after history alone was not changed after the completion of physical examination. In only 5 cases was the diagnosis changed after physical examination. 266 investigations were done in 84 cases. 84.89 per cent of the test done were found to be abnormal. Thus, (1) history alone can give a diagnosis accurate enough to stand confirmation by investigations in 88.7 per cent of cases usually reinforced by physical examination after which the accuracy rate went up to 93.8 per cent and (2) help given by investigations in arriving at Final Diagnosis is negligible.

Serological survey. I. Immunity status of some Burmese nationals to diphtheria.

The sera of 1,068 healthy Burmese adults of both sexes, having no history of active immunization against diphtheria or of classical clinical diphtheria, were titrated for antitoxin levels in order to determine their immunity status towards diphtheria. The rabbit intradermal test (Jensen, 1933) at the Lr/1000 level was used. Only 25 (2.3%) had antitoxin titres of less than 0.01 mu/ml and were classified as non-immune while the remaining 1043 (97.7%) possessed titres of 0.01 mu/ml or more and were therefore immune. The percentage of non-immune females, 6.9% (13 out of 188) was significantly different (p > 0.01) from non-immune males, being 1.4% (12 out of 880). No significant differences were found between the age groups regarding immunity status either in males or in females.