Prevalence of Hypopigmentary Disorders in Primary School Children in Zagazig City, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic data derived from population-based studies are very important to understand human diseases and their implications. Highlighting skin problems by identifying their incidence and prevalence is vital to direct suitable medical attention toward them. AIM: The aim of the study was to detect the prevalence and most common causes of hypopigmentation in primary school children in Zagazig City. METHODS: Cross-sectional study on 185 students selected from two schools. Data were collected by filling a questionnaire, clinical examination, and Wood's light examination to detect hypopigmented skin disorders. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypopigmentation among studied population was 45.4%; the commonest cause was pityriasis alba 58.3%, followed by pityriasis versicolor 17.9%, postinflammatory hypopigmentation 10.7%, hypopigmented nevus 9.5%, and finally 3.6% vitiligo. CONCLUSION: Hypopigmented skin disorders are important and easy to diagnosis skin diseases that need medical attention.

Menopause and work--the experience of middle-aged female teaching staff in an Egyptian governmental faculty of medicine.

OBJECTIVES: There is a global trend of increasing numbers of older women in the workforce. However, limited information is available regarding the relationship between the menopause transition and work, especially in developing countries. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between experience of the menopause transition and work and to examine the factors affecting how women cope, including the extent to which women disclosed their menopausal status. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional single group design, 131 middle-aged female medical teaching staff working in Zagazig Faculty of Medicine completed questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Participants, particularly those who were postmenopausal, reported high average scores on depressed mood, memory/concentration, sleep problems, vasomotor symptoms, and sexual behavior subscales of the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ). Women reported that poor working environment and work policies and conditions, functioning as sources of work stress, aggravated their menopausal symptoms. Disclosure of their menopausal status was uncommon; limited time and socio-cultural barriers were the most commonly reported reasons for non-disclosure. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that the menopause transition is an important occupational health issue especially for women in developing countries. Implementing health promotion programs, improving working environment and work policies, and raising awareness of menopause are recommended to help women to cope with the menopause transition and to maintain well-being and productivity at work.

Effect of an environmental health educational programme for paediatricians in an Egyptian University Hospital: before and after study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of an educational intervention on paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding children's environmental health and to identify the sources of information and common environmental history taking constrains. DESIGN: Before and after study. SETTING: Zagazig University Paediatric Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Practising paediatricians from all specialty units. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome of a specifically designed educational programme about paediatric environmental health was assessed using structured pre- and post-test questionnaires. RESULTS: Nearly half the participants were aware about most of the paediatric environmental health-related topics. Textbooks/guidelines (85.7%) and the Internet (64.3%) were the main sources of information. The participants demonstrated relatively strong positive attitudes towards the importance of children's environmental health. However, less than half of them (44.6%) reported environmental history taking as a routine practice; where lack of time (94.6%), wide range of hazardous exposures (91.1%) and lack of expertise and training (91.1%) were the main constrains. Significant improvement in participants' knowledge, attitudes and practices was revealed after the educational programme. CONCLUSIONS: There is a demand for continuous medical education about environmental health in paediatric practice, particularly environmental and occupational history taking.

Cardiotoxicity of Freon among refrigeration services workers: comparative cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Freon includes a number of gaseous, colorless chlorofluorocarbons. Although freon is generally considered to be a fluorocarbon of relatively low toxicity; significantly detrimental effects may occur upon over exposure. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether occupational exposure to fluorocarbons can induce arterial hypertension, myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrhythmias, elevated levels of plasma lipids and renal dysfunction. METHODS: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the cardiology clinic of the Suez Canal Authority Hospital (Egypt). The study included 23 apparently healthy male workers at the refrigeration services workshop who were exposed to fluorocarbons (FC 12 and FC 22) and 23 likewise apparently healthy male workers (unexposed), the control group. All the participants were interviewed using a pre-composed questionnaire and were subjected to a clinical examination and relevant laboratory investigations. RESULTS: There were no significant statistical differences between the groups studied regarding symptoms suggesting arterial hypertension and renal affection, although a significantly higher percentage of the studied refrigeration services workers had symptoms of arrhythmias. None of the workers had symptoms suggesting coronary artery disease. Clinical examination revealed that the refrigeration services workers had a significantly higher mean pulse rate compared to the controls, though no significant statistical differences were found in arterial blood pressure measurements between the two study groups. Exercise stress testing of the workers studied revealed normal heart reaction to the increased need for oxygen, while sinus tachycardia was detected in all the participants. The results of Holter monitoring revealed significant differences within subject and group regarding the number of abnormal beats detected throughout the day of monitoring (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences detected in the average heart rate during the monitoring period within subject or group. Most laboratory investigations revealed absence of significant statistical differences for lipid profile markers, serum electrolyte levels and glomerular lesion markers between the groups except for cholesterol and urinary beta2-microglobulin (tubular lesion markers) levels which were significantly elevated in freon exposed workers. CONCLUSIONS: Unprotected occupational exposure to chlorofluorocarbons can induce cardiotoxicity in the form of cardiac arrhythmias. The role of chlorofluorocarbons in inducing arterial hypertension and coronary artery diseases is unclear, although significantly elevated serum cholesterol and urinary beta2-microglobulin levels raise a concern.