3 Cases of Student Suddent Death at School and Study to Prevent the Incidence / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

We report 3 cases of sudden death while the students are at school. In Japan 120-150 cases, mainly related to sports, are reported in a year. In Gifu Prefecture (population 2, 000, 000), only 1 or 2 cases probably occur in a year. While here in Mizunami City (population 40, 000), we had 3 cases for the last 10 years. This is a higher occurrence rate than in other cities.<BR>The 1st case was caused by brain-stem bleeding; the 2nd, rupture of the wall of the aorta associated with Marfan syndrome, and the 3rd, fatal arrythmia related to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.<BR>Measures to prevent the incidence are summed up as follows<BR>(1) Teachers, school doctors and hospital staffs should have closer contact<BR>(2) We should critically review the standards for cardiac disease management and make a thorough examination of the heart at the time of regular health screening by several ways, such as UCG, Holter ECG and treadmill ECG, to find high-risk students.<BR>(3) 60% of the cases of sudden death were of cardiac origin, and 40% were due to central nervous system disorder, bronchial asthma etc., so we should also watch over these conditions.