[Food-borne streptococcal epidemics]. / Levnedsmiddelbåren streptokokepidemi.

Approximately two days after a high school final year farewell party a striking number of pupils and teachers became ill with pharyngitis. The regional public health medical office carried out a questionnaire study with a control group of younger pupils. The regional food control unit studied the preparation and handling at food. Some bacterial cultures received from general practitioners were identified by the regional clinical-microbiological laboratory. Seventy-six percent of the 216 exposed pupils who answered (94% response rate) against 15% of 238 answering in the control group (83% response rate) became ill. The peak incidence was two days after the party. The infectious agent was beta-haemolytic streptoccoci group-A, T-type 25. A salad made of pasta and vegetables that were not cooked and handled properly must have been the vehicle of infection although no salad was left for cultivation. Salads made of pasta must be prepared with great care and effectively cooled. When suspecting a food-borne epidemic, clinicians should immediately inform the regional public health medical office, and the municipal food control unit must take part in the investigations. It is important that bacterial cultures are identified by the regional clinical-microbiological laboratory. It should be considered to make it mandatory that the involved personnel accepts clinical examination and microbiological sampling in cases of suspected food-borne infection.

[Status of preventive screening for uterine cervix cancer in Denmark in 1994]. / Status for forebyggende undersøgelser mod livmoderhalskraeft i Danmark 1994.

In 1986 The National Board of Health published guidelines for cervical cancer screening in Denmark. These guidelines recommend organized screening with personal invitations every three years to women in the age group 23-59 years, and in the years to come also invitation of women aged 60-74 years. We studied the organization of cervical cancer screening in Danish counties at the beginning of 1994. Organized screening programmes are running in 15 out of the 16 "counties" (this include the municipalities of København and Frederiksberg). Four counties completely follow the national guidelines. Eight counties follow these guidelines in general, but they do not invite women above the age of 60 years. In total, 72% of women aged 25-74 years are at present invited for cervical cancer screening in Denmark.

The effect of a community-based cardiovascular disease prevention project in a Danish municipality.

A community-based project for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases was undertaken in 1989 in a rural Danish municipality (Slangerup) with about 8000 inhabitants. Project goals were to draw attention to project activities and improve smoking, eating and exercise behaviours. The intervention was planned using the social learning theory, a communication-behaviour change model and community organisation principle. The strategy used for intervention involved both mass communication and active involvement of the local population in group activities. The objectives of the intervention were assessed by data obtained from representative cross-section surveys in intervention and a control area at baseline (1989) and one year later. More respondents in the intervention (82%) than control (67%) area were aware of local health projects. Ten % reported that they stopped smoking within the last year, 39% ate less fat, and 28% did more exercise, with no differences between intervention and control area. Several explanations are proposed for the limited effect of the project on behaviours. One possible explanation is that the project almost ended up being a pure mass media campaign which may increase awareness, but, as experience shows, may have limited influence on adoption of new behaviour. The Danish population around 1990 is very well informed and educated in this field due to earlier nationwide interventions. No further behavioural effects are obtainable with mass media campaigns.

[Status of preventive examinations against uterine cervix cancer in Denmark]. / Status for forebyggende undersøgelser mod livmoderhalskraeft i Danmark 1991.

In 1986, The Danish National Board of Health published guidelines for cervical cancer screening. These guidelines recommend organized screening with personal invitations every three years to women in the age group 23-59 years, and in the years to come also invitations to women aged 60-74 years. Five years have now elapsed since publication of these guidelines, and we have therefore studied the present organization of cervical cancer screening in Danish counties. Organized screening programmes are now, medio 1991, running in 11 out of the 16 "counties" (this includes the municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg). One county follows the national guidelines entirely. Six counties follow these guidelines in general, but they do not invite women over the age of 60 years. In all, 45% of women aged 25-74 years are at present invited for cervical cancer screening in Denmark. Two counties have decided to start organized screening programmes in 1992.

[Cardiovascular risk factors--extent and self-assessed risk in relation to prevention of cardiovascular diseases. A questionnaire among 3,956 men and women aged 24-65 years in Vejle County, Slangerup and Helsinge municipalities]. / Kardiovaskulaere risikofaktorer--viden og selvvurderet risiko i relation til forebyggelse af hjerte-kar-sygdomme. En spørgeskemaundersøgelse blandt 3.956 moend og kvinder på 24-65 år i Vejle Amt, Slangerup og Helsinge kommuner.

In autumn 1989, a material of 1,330 men and 1,561 women aged 20-65 years and resident in the County of Vejle replied to a standardized questionnaire about their knowledge and behaviour in relation to prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease. During the same period, 501 men 565 women in the Municipalities of Helsinge and Slangerup participated in a similar investigation. It was investigated whether the behaviours of the participants as regards tobacco, physical activity, diet, experience of stress and overweight were unsuitable in relation to prevention of cardiovascular disease. 22% of the men and 11% of the women had unfavourable behaviour in more than two of these factors. The percentage proportion with many unfavourable factors was greatest among persons with the lowest school education. The majority of the participants were aware of the factors which are of significance for the development of cardiovascular disease. The general level of knowledge was high. A majority of the participants with many unfavourable factors assessed their own risk of development of cardiovascular disease as great. The proportion of the participants who were aware that a personal effort was of significance to retain health was greatest in the group where the behaviour was most suitable both where men an women were concerned.

Persistence of contact allergy to chromium.

Forty-eight patients with a positive patch test to potassium dichromate 0.5% were retested after 4-7 years; 38 patients (79%) still had a positive patch test. Chromate allergy seems to be persistent. In 72% of the cases a history of occupational exposure to chromates could be proved.