Graduation date: 2005

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

As infecções respiratórias agudas são uma importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade infantil em todo o mundo. Algumas dessas infecções podem resultar em Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave (SRAG). Os vírus respiratórios são os principais responsáveis por esta doença. O monitoramento e a vigilância das SRAG e dos vírus respiratórios são importantes para a gestão em saúde minimizando o impacto destas infecções respiratórias. O presente estudo buscou analisar a sazonalidade e impacto clínico das infecções causadas por vírus respiratórios em crianças internadas em hospital pediátrico do Paraná. Foram incluídos no estudo 229 pacientes de 0 até 15 anos de idade, de janeiro de 2012 a dezembro de 2015, com diagnóstico clínico de SRAG e amostra respiratória coletada e enviada ao Laboratório Central do Estado do Paraná para diagnóstico do agente etiológico. A busca dos casos de SRAG foi realizada utilizando o prontuário eletrônico GSUS (Gestão da Assistência de Saúde do SUS), arquivos do setor de fisioterapia e informações do Núcleo de Controle de Infecções hospitalares do hospital do estudo. Dos pacientes incluídos na pesquisa, foi preenchido um formulário de coleta de dados e posteriormente estes foram analisados de acordo com os objetivos da pesquisa. As análises estatísticas foram efetuadas com o pacote estatístico GRAPHPAD PRISM e foi considerado um nível de significância de 5%. A maioria dos pacientes da amostra pertencia à faixa etária de 0 a 6 meses de idade, não houve sexo predominante. No presente estudo as amostras positivas para pelo menos um agente etiológico contabilizaram 76,41%, e o vírus mais prevalente foi o Vírus Sincicial respiratório (VSR). Quanto à sazonalidade da detecção viral, houve predominância no final de outono e início do inverno, mais acentuada para o VSR. Quando analisada as três temperaturas ambientais da região, a incidência de SRAG foi significativamente maior no quartil descendente da temperatura média para mínima. Não foi observada diferença significativa entre os grupos etiológicos pesquisados com relação ao tempo desde o início dos sintomas até a internação. Houve predominância de internamentos em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. O tempo de internamento foi significativamente maior naqueles pacientes com doença de base e não alterou conforme os agentes etiológicos identificados ou presença de codetecção. Os pacientes que apresentaram padrão misto na radiografia de tórax tiveram um tempo de internamento significativamente maior do que aqueles que apresentaram o padrão infiltrado intersticial. O tempo total foi significativamente menor no grupo Metapneumovírus em relação aos grupos Bordetella pertussis, Influenza, Rinovírus e grupo dos pacientes sem agentes infecciosos detectados. O tempo de ventilação mecânica não apresentou diferenças significativas entre os grupos etiológicos nem com relação à presença ou não de codetecção. A maior parte dos pacientes recebeu alta hospitalar, mas ocorreram três óbitos devido a SRAG, todos em pacientes com alguma doença de base ou condições de risco. / Acute respiratory infections are the most important cause of children morbidity and mortality worldwide. Some of these infections can result in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Respiratory viruses are primarily responsible for SARS. The monitoring and surveillance of SARS and respiratory viruses are important for health management, minimizing the impact of these respiratory infections. The present study was about the seasonality and clinical impact of respiratory viruses in children admitted to a pediatric reference hospital. The study included 229 children from 0 to 15 years old, from January 2012 to December 2015, with clinical diagnosis of SARS and respiratory sample collected and sent to the Central Laboratory of the State of Paraná for etiological agent analysis. The search for SARS cases was performed using the GSUS (Health Care Management of SUS) electronic filesystem, records of the center of physiotherapy and information of the Hospital Infection Control Center of the studied hospital. Of the patients included in the research, data collection forms were filled out and later analyzed according to the research objectives. Statistical analyzis were performed with the statistical package GRAPHPAD PRISM and a significance level of 5% was considered. The majority of patients in the sample belonged to the age group 0-6 months of age, and there was no predominant sex. Regarding the risk factors for viral infection, the presence of comorbidity or underlying disease was the most prevalent factor. In the present study, the positive samples for at least one etiological agent accounted for 76.41%, and the most prevalent virus was Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). As for the seasonality of viral detection, there was a predominance in the late fall and early winter, which was more pronounced for RSV. When the environmental temperatures of the region were analyzed, the incidence of SARS was significantly higher in the descending quartile of the average minimum temperature. No significant difference was observed between the studied etiological groups in relation to the time from the beginning of the symptoms until the hospitalization. There was a predominance of hospitalizations in the Intensive Care Unit. The hospitalization time was significantly higher in patients with underlying disease or comorbidities and did not change according to the identified etiological agents or the presence of codetection. Patients who presented a mixed pattern on chest radiography had a significantly longer hospitalization time than those who had the interstitial infiltrate pattern. The total time was significantly lower in the Metapneumovirus group than in the Bordetella pertussis, Influenza, Rhinovirus and group of patients without detected infectious agents. Most patients were discharged from hospital, but there were three deaths due to SARS, all in patients with some underlying disease or risk conditions.

As infecções respiratórias agudas são uma importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade infantil em todo o mundo. Algumas dessas infecções podem resultar em Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave (SRAG). Os vírus respiratórios são os principais responsáveis por esta doença. O monitoramento e a vigilância das SRAG e dos vírus respiratórios são importantes para a gestão em saúde minimizando o impacto destas infecções respiratórias. O presente estudo buscou analisar a sazonalidade e impacto clínico das infecções causadas por vírus respiratórios em crianças internadas em hospital pediátrico do Paraná. Foram incluídos no estudo 229 pacientes de 0 até 15 anos de idade, de janeiro de 2012 a dezembro de 2015, com diagnóstico clínico de SRAG e amostra respiratória coletada e enviada ao Laboratório Central do Estado do Paraná para diagnóstico do agente etiológico. A busca dos casos de SRAG foi realizada utilizando o prontuário eletrônico GSUS (Gestão da Assistência de Saúde do SUS), arquivos do setor de fisioterapia e informações do Núcleo de Controle de Infecções hospitalares do hospital do estudo. Dos pacientes incluídos na pesquisa, foi preenchido um formulário de coleta de dados e posteriormente estes foram analisados de acordo com os objetivos da pesquisa. As análises estatísticas foram efetuadas com o pacote estatístico GRAPHPAD PRISM e foi considerado um nível de significância de 5%. A maioria dos pacientes da amostra pertencia à faixa etária de 0 a 6 meses de idade, não houve sexo predominante. No presente estudo as amostras positivas para pelo menos um agente etiológico contabilizaram 76,41%, e o vírus mais prevalente foi o Vírus Sincicial respiratório (VSR). Quanto à sazonalidade da detecção viral, houve predominância no final de outono e início do inverno, mais acentuada para o VSR. Quando analisada as três temperaturas ambientais da região, a incidência de SRAG foi significativamente maior no quartil descendente da temperatura média para mínima. Não foi observada diferença significativa entre os grupos etiológicos pesquisados com relação ao tempo desde o início dos sintomas até a internação. Houve predominância de internamentos em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. O tempo de internamento foi significativamente maior naqueles pacientes com doença de base e não alterou conforme os agentes etiológicos identificados ou presença de codetecção. Os pacientes que apresentaram padrão misto na radiografia de tórax tiveram um tempo de internamento significativamente maior do que aqueles que apresentaram o padrão infiltrado intersticial. O tempo total foi significativamente menor no grupo Metapneumovírus em relação aos grupos Bordetella pertussis, Influenza, Rinovírus e grupo dos pacientes sem agentes infecciosos detectados. O tempo de ventilação mecânica não apresentou diferenças significativas entre os grupos etiológicos nem com relação à presença ou não de codetecção. A maior parte dos pacientes recebeu alta hospitalar, mas ocorreram três óbitos devido a SRAG, todos em pacientes com alguma doença de base ou condições de risco. / Acute respiratory infections are the most important cause of children morbidity and mortality worldwide. Some of these infections can result in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Respiratory viruses are primarily responsible for SARS. The monitoring and surveillance of SARS and respiratory viruses are important for health management, minimizing the impact of these respiratory infections. The present study was about the seasonality and clinical impact of respiratory viruses in children admitted to a pediatric reference hospital. The study included 229 children from 0 to 15 years old, from January 2012 to December 2015, with clinical diagnosis of SARS and respiratory sample collected and sent to the Central Laboratory of the State of Paraná for etiological agent analysis. The search for SARS cases was performed using the GSUS (Health Care Management of SUS) electronic filesystem, records of the center of physiotherapy and information of the Hospital Infection Control Center of the studied hospital. Of the patients included in the research, data collection forms were filled out and later analyzed according to the research objectives. Statistical analyzis were performed with the statistical package GRAPHPAD PRISM and a significance level of 5% was considered. The majority of patients in the sample belonged to the age group 0-6 months of age, and there was no predominant sex. Regarding the risk factors for viral infection, the presence of comorbidity or underlying disease was the most prevalent factor. In the present study, the positive samples for at least one etiological agent accounted for 76.41%, and the most prevalent virus was Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). As for the seasonality of viral detection, there was a predominance in the late fall and early winter, which was more pronounced for RSV. When the environmental temperatures of the region were analyzed, the incidence of SARS was significantly higher in the descending quartile of the average minimum temperature. No significant difference was observed between the studied etiological groups in relation to the time from the beginning of the symptoms until the hospitalization. There was a predominance of hospitalizations in the Intensive Care Unit. The hospitalization time was significantly higher in patients with underlying disease or comorbidities and did not change according to the identified etiological agents or the presence of codetection. Patients who presented a mixed pattern on chest radiography had a significantly longer hospitalization time than those who had the interstitial infiltrate pattern. The total time was significantly lower in the Metapneumovirus group than in the Bordetella pertussis, Influenza, Rhinovirus and group of patients without detected infectious agents. Most patients were discharged from hospital, but there were three deaths due to SARS, all in patients with some underlying disease or risk conditions.

In conclusion, the current air pollution levels in Hong Kong had a risk for school children's respiratory and cardiovascular health. In comparison between the highly- and least-polluted districts, a rise of 8 mug/m 3 annual mean for PM10 concentration was significantly associated with increased risks for some respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, cough, and phlegm, with decreased lung function in FEF25-75% and FEF75%, and with decreased cardiopulmonary fitness in predicted VO2max, after adjustment for confounding factors. An increase of 13 mug/m3 annual mean for NO2 in the moderately-polluted district did not individually cause adverse effects on children's respiratory and cardiopulmonary health. Physical activity appears to have no positive health effects on the children's VO2max in moderately- and highly-polluted districts. / In the past year preceding the study (May 2003 to April 2004), the annual means for PM10, NO2, SO2 and O3 were respectively 55.1 mug/m3, 51.4 mug/m3, 15.4 mug/m3, and 42.5 mug/m3 in the least-polluted district (LPD); 56.3 mug/m3, 64.7 mug/m3, 15.2 mug/m3, and 35.2 mug/m3 in the moderately-polluted district (MPD); and 63.8 mug/m3, 64.1 mug/m3, 22.2 mug/m3, and 31.7 mug/m3 in the highly-polluted district (HPD). The 99th percentiles were 178 mug/m3, 158 mug/m 3, 104 mug/m3, and 140 mug/m3 in the LPD; 169 mug/m3, 181 mug/m3, 106 mug/m 3, and 113 mug/m3 in the MPD; and 226 mug/m 3, 177 mug/m3, 140 mug/m3, and 137 mug/m 3 in the HPD. The average daily 1-h maximum O3 (peak O 3) was 83.7 mug/m3 in the LPD, 73.6 mug/m 3 in the MPD, and 64.8 mug/m3 in the HPD. / Lung function indices included FVC, FEV1, FEV 1/FVC, FEF25-75%, FEF25%, and FEF75%. Children in the HPD had lower FEV 1/FVC, FEF25-75%, and FEF25% than those in both the LPD and MPD, after controlling for their corresponding confounders. In comparison between the LPD and HPD, the adjusted mean differences for FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%, and FEF25% were respectively 1.39%, 85 ml, and 113 ml in boys, and 1.60%, 86 ml, and 225 ml in girls. In addition, the decreased FEF75% of HPD was found in boys (62 ml) but not in girls. When comparing the MPD with LPD, the increased FEF25% was observed in girls in the LPD (158 ml), whereas boys in the LPD had lower FEF75% than those in the MPD (81 ml). There were no significant differences in children's FVC and FEV1 between districts. / The multistage fitness test (MFT) with the Matsuzaka's function was employed to predict cardiopulmonary fitness (VO2max) of children. After adjustment for the factors, girls in the LPD had significantly higher VO 2max than those in the MPD and HPD by 0.19 and 0.75 ml·kg -1 ·min-1 respectively. The VO 2max among boys in the LPD was 0.48 ml·kg-1 ·min -1 higher than those in the HPD. When we compared the VO 2max between students in MPD and HPD, higher VO2max in both boys and girls in the MPD were observed---by 0.49 and 0.56 ml·kg -1 ·min-1 respectively. In LPD, significantly higher VO2max values were observed in both boys and girls who were physically active (children who took part in sports and/or vigorous free play at least three times a week for at least 30 minutes each time) compared with those who were not (0.71 and 0.65 ml·kg-1 ·min -1 respectively), but those differences in VO2max among students in MPD and HPD were small and insignificant. / There were totally 2,641 (82.9%) children who participated in the study, and 2,203 participants were involved in analyses. After adjustment for confounding factors, girls living in the HPD had significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) for wheezing without cold (4.75), cough at night (1.71), phlegm without cold (3.61), compared with those in the LPD. Boys in the HPD had increased OR only for phlegm without cold (1.88). When comparing the MPD with LPD, the adjusted OR for cough at night achieved significance in girls (1.74) and marginal significance in boys (1.40). Sneeze with itchy-watery eyes and current/ever allergic rhinitis had negative associations with district. In comparison with LPD, the decreased OR for sneeze with itchy-watery eye in girls in HPD (0.65) reached statistical significance. Both boys and girls in MPD had significantly decreased ORs for current allergic rhinitis (0.72 and 0.50 respectively) and for ever allergic rhinitis (0.74 and 0.55 respectively). There were no significant differences in the prevalence rates of asthma and bronchitis between districts. / To explore associations between air pollution and respiratory and cardiovascular health of school children, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 3,186 primary school children in P3 and P4 from three districts with different air pollution levels in Hong Kong during March to June in 2004. / Gao Yang. / "August 2005." / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: B, page: 6339. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-154). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology Degree : Environmental Health, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Introduction Informal waste picking has both economic and environmental benefits, however there are many health risks associated with this activity. This cross sectional descriptive study assessed the respiratory health risks and dust (PM2.5) exposure among informal waste pickers operating at the New England landfill site in the Msunduzi Municipality. Data was collected from 102 informal waste pickers using a validated questionnaire adapted from the British Medical Research Council and American Thoracic Society. Our study population comprised of 66.4°/o women with a mean age of 36.7 years. Women reported greater use of safety shoes and gloves compared to men. Very few participants used dust masks or respirators. Results showed a high prevalence of chronic cough (57o/o), wheeze (51°/o) shortness of breath (31.6°/o) and cough with phlegm (29.0°/o) among all participants. Among those who reported having ever smoked, there was a significantly higher prevalence of cough with phlegm (45.2°/o p=0.02) and wheeze (73.1°/o, p= 0.05). Similarly, there was a bivariate association between current smoking and wheeze (p=0.02) and between ever smoked and wheeze {p< 0.05). A random sample of 28 waste pickers was chosen from the 102 participants for personal sampling. The levels and distribution of time weighted average to PM2.5 were calculated during an 8 hour working period. Average personal sampling levels of PM2.5 were very high compared to environmental levels. Personal sampling results showed a maximum exposure of 431 J.,Jg/m 3 and a mean of 187.4 J.,Jg/m 3 compared to a maximum level of 27.9 J.,Jg/m 3 and a mean of 16.5 J.,Jg/m 3 for environmental sampling. Mean personal sampling results significantly exceeded recommended eight hour time weighted average for South African National Standard for Occupational Exposure Limit (Republic of South Africa OHS ACT 85 of 1993), World Health Organisation and United State Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for PM2.5, while the environmental mean was within guidelines. This study showed that waste pickers are exposed to high levels of PM2.5 while working at the landfill site. Limited or no use of personal protective equipment increases risk of dust exposure and adverse respiratory effects. The relatively high prevalence of cough, shortness of breath and wheeze symptoms among these informal waste pickers may be linked to exposure to dust at the landfill site / PDF copy unavailable. please refer to hard copy for full text information / M