RESUMO
The health status of an urban elderly Sinhala population ordinarily resident in their homes was investigated by interview and physical examination. Just over one fifth of the subjects had been hospitalised at least once for an episode of illness during the previous 12 months. 47.7% of the subjects complained of impaired vision, and 12.8% had cataract; 45.0% had less than the minimum number of teeth required for proper mastication; 24.8% of the subjects had impaired hearing. Medical histories showed that 10.1% of the subjects suffered from haemorrhoids; 2.0% were hemiplegic. A random single blood pressure recording showed 34.2% of the subjects to have a diastolic blood pressure of 95 mm Hg or more. 9.4% of the subjects had glucosuria. With the high morbidity seen among this elderly population a case is made for the establishment of geriatric clinics in government hospitals, and that care of the elderly be included in the Primary Health Care programme of Sri Lanka.
Assuntos
Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Nível de Saúde , Humanos , Masculino , Morbidade , Sri Lanka , Saúde da População UrbanaRESUMO
The prevalence of dental fluorosis in four selected schools from different areas in Sri Lanka was investigated by dental examination of 377 school children aged 14 years. In the endemic zone the prevalence of dental fluorosis was 51 to 78% while in a non-endemic area it was 5.4%. There were no significant sex differences in the prevalence of fluorosis. Attention is drawn to the need for using non-fluoridated tooth-paste in areas where dental fluorosis is common. The problem could be further aggravated in the future by the use of water from tube wells in these areas which are known to contain higher concentrations of fluoride than those from shallow wells.
Assuntos
Adolescente , Assistência Odontológica , Feminino , Fluoretação/efeitos adversos , Fluorose Dentária/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Fatores Sexuais , Sri Lanka/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The efficacy of a single large dose of mebendazole was compared with the three-day multiple dose in mass treatment. The subjects were selected from among plantation workers of a tea estate in Kandy. The multiple dose regime showed consistently better egg reduction rates and cure rates when compared to the single large dose in subjects harbouring one or more soil-transmitted helminths.