Study on Respiratory Disturbances Caused in Farm Work / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

A total village health control program has been instituted in Yachiho Village (pop. 5, 211, 1975National Census) since1959.<BR>When the deaths caused by respiratory diseases in this village are compared between the first eight years under the health control program (1960-67) and the second eight years (1968-75), the deaths caused by lung tuberculosis decreased by67% and those by pneumonia and bronchitis dropped by52%. On the other hand, there have been no drops in the deaths caused by pulmonary emphysema and bronchial asthma, and their ratios are higher than the national averages.<BR>The prevalence of bronchial asthma among inhabitants of Yachiho Village stands at0.9% among males and1.2% among females, and these percentages are practically the same as the national averages. On the other hand, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis is9.8% among males and5.7% among females, and these ratios are lower than in air-polluted urban areas but higher than in nonpolluted cities.<BR>A wide variety of farm work-particularly, rice threshing and hulling-greatly infuences the incidence and course of chronic bronchitis. It is therefore important to implement measures for the prevention of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema.