RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and radiological prevalence of skeletal fluorosis among the retired employees of Wonji-Shoa sugar estate. DESIGN: Retrospective and cross-sectional study. SETTING: Wonji-Shoa sugar estate, an agro-industrial estate located in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and sixty three employees of the estate who retired between 1995 and 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical evidence of impaired squatting, neck and lumbar mobility, kyphosis, and X-ray evidence of fluorosis. RESULTS: Skeletal fluorosis was more evident among the males (p<0.05), and the prevalence was higher among the factory and the agricultural workers than among the administrative workers (p<0.05). Clinical prevalence was 20% versus the radiological prevalence of 70.3%, indicating that many cases were asymptomatic. Impaired neck and lumbar mobility and impaired squatting significantly agreed with the radiological diagnosis (p<0.05) while kyphosis was not. CONCLUSION: Further clinical and epidemiological studies are suggested and strengthening of the existing defluoridation programmes within the area is recommended.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Trabalhadores Agrícolas/epidemiologia , Doenças Ósseas/epidemiologia , Intoxicação por Flúor/epidemiologia , Aposentadoria/estatística & dados numéricos , Doenças dos Trabalhadores Agrícolas/classificação , Doenças dos Trabalhadores Agrícolas/diagnóstico por imagem , Doenças Ósseas/classificação , Doenças Ósseas/diagnóstico por imagem , Comorbidade , Estudos Transversais , Etiópia/epidemiologia , Feminino , Intoxicação por Flúor/classificação , Intoxicação por Flúor/diagnóstico por imagem , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Exposição Ocupacional/estatística & dados numéricos , Prevalência , Radiografia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Distribuição por Sexo , EdulcorantesRESUMO
On the basis of evaluating the clinical course and supplementary method of examination carried out in 132 patients suffering of professional fluorosis and in 200 workers in the premorbid state the author proposes criteria of early diagnosis. Considering Zislin's classification of professional fluorosis, literature data and own findings the author introduces 2 new criteria in the classification, namely, content of fluorine in the urine and length of work in this profession.