ABSTRACT
AIM: To describe an outbreak with symptoms of respiratory tract irritation reported in a village located on the Almerian coast in August 2006, as well as the etiological research performed. METHODS: We performed a descriptive case-control study. The village was divided into three areas (from 1 to 3) according to the distance from the sea. Symptomatology was subjectively assessed on an ascending severity scale (from 1 to 3). Attack rates (AR) were estimated. To correlate symptom severity by areas and type of exposure, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used. Environmental research was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-seven cases and 26 controls were surveyed. An AR of 69% was estimated. The most frequent symptom was sneezing (87.7%). Residents in area 1 had a higher risk of more severe symptoms than those in area 3 (OR = 46.7; 95%CI: 4.7-2,067.4). Residents who reported having spent more time outside had a higher risk of more severe symptoms (OR = 12.2; 95%CI: 1.1-615.1). A concentration of dinoflagellates Ostreopsis of 1200 cells/l was determined in sea water. CONCLUSIONS: An outbreak with respiratory symptoms and with differing severity depending on the distance of housing from the sea occurred. According to the environmental and epidemiological research, the symptoms were probably related to the presence of Ostreopsis toxic microalgae.
Subject(s)
Dinoflagellida , Disease Outbreaks , Marine Toxins/poisoning , Respiration Disorders/chemically induced , Respiration Disorders/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Spain , Young AdultABSTRACT
Objetivos: Describir un brote con clínica de irritación de lasvías respiratorias, notificado en una localidad de la costa almerienseen agosto de 2006, así como la investigación etiológicarealizada.Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y de casos y controles. Se dividióla localidad en 3 zonas según su mayor o menor cercaníaal mar (de 1 a 3). La sintomatología fue valorada subjetivamentede menor a mayor gravedad (1 a 3). Se estimaronlas tasas de ataque (TA). Para relacionar la gravedad de lossíntomas por zonas y el tipo de exposición se calcularon lasodds ratio (OR) y sus intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC95%).También se utilizó la prueba de la 2 y el test exacto de Fisher.Se realizó una investigación ambiental.Resultados: Se encuestó a 57 casos y 26 controles. Se estimóuna TA del 69%. El síntoma más frecuente fue el estornudo(87,7%). Los individuos de la zona 1 presentaron mayorriesgo de padecer sintomatología de más gravedad que losde la zona 3 (OR = 46,7; IC95%: 4,7-2.067,4). Los que indicaronuna mayor permanencia fuera de la vivienda tuvieronmayor riesgo de enfermar (OR = 12,2; IC95%: 1,1-615,1). Enagua de mar se detectaron 1.200 células/l de dinoflageladosOstreopsis.Conclusiones: Se trata de un brote con sintomatología respiratoria,con distinto grado de afectación según la cercaníaal mar de la vivienda. Según la investigación epidemiológicay ambiental, lo más probable es que se haya debido a la presenciade microalgas tóxicas Ostreopsis(AU)
Aim: To describe an outbreak with symptoms of respiratorytract irritation reported in a village located on the Almerian coastin August 2006, as well as the etiological research performed.Methods: We performed a descriptive case-control study. Thevillage was divided into three areas (from 1 to 3) accordingto the distance from the sea. Symptomatology was subjectivelyassessed on an ascending severity scale (from 1 to 3).Attack rates (AR) were estimated. To correlate symptom severityby areas and type of exposure, odds ratios (OR) with95% confidence intervals were estimated. The chi-square testand Fishers exact test were used. Environmental research wasperformed.Results: Fifty-seven cases and 26 controls were surveyed.An AR of 69% was estimated. The most frequent symptomwas sneezing (87.7%). Residents in area 1 had a higher riskof more severe symptoms than those in area 3 (OR = 46.7;95%CI: 4.7-2,067.4). Residents who reported having spentmore time outside had a higher risk of more severe symptoms(OR = 12.2; 95%CI: 1.1-615.1). A concentration of dinoflagellatesOstreopsis of 1200 cells/l was determined in sea water.Conclusions: An outbreak with respiratory symptoms and withdiffering severity depending on the distance of housing fromthe sea occurred. According to the environmental and epidemiologicalresearch, the symptoms were probably related tothe presence of Ostreopsis toxic microalgae(AU)
