scholarly journals Strengthening the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. e71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura E. Reynolds ◽  
Anita L. Wolfe ◽  
Kathleen A. Clark ◽  
David J. Blackley ◽  
Cara N. Halldin ◽  
...  
BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e015876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara N Halldin ◽  
Janet M Hale ◽  
David J Blackley ◽  
A Scott Laney

ObjectiveThe National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health-administered Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) provides radiographic pneumoconiosis screening for US coal miners. Radiographs are classified by readers according to International Labour Office criteria. In addition to pneumoconiotic parenchymal and pleural lung abnormalities, readers document radiographic features of importance (other symbols). Other symbols are not meant to imply a diagnosis or interpretation but are relevant as they provide information beyond a pneumoconiosis classification for features related to dust exposure and other aetiologies. Our objective was to summarise other symbol data from 48 years of CWHSP participants.MethodsChest radiograph classifications obtained from CWHSP participants between July 1968 and July 2016 were analysed. Any ‘other symbol’ indication from any of the readings were counted. Frequencies were tabulated by individual reader and those identified by any reader.ResultsOf the 469 922 radiographs included in this study, nearly 15% had at least one reader identify a radiographic feature of importance. The most commonly identified other symbol was cancer (excluding mesothelioma) (6.83%), followed by emphysema (1.68%). Some features were rarely identified over the 48 years of data collection such as rheumatoid pneumoconiosis (n=46), pneumothorax (n=32), mesothelioma (n=12) and rounded atelectasis (n=4).ConclusionsThis is the largest study to date describing radiographic features of importance as part of routine chest radiographic surveillance. While these symbols are not diagnostic they can be used to describe features associated with dust exposure. One of the most commonly identified radiographic features in our population is emphysema which is associated with respirable dust exposure. These results can be compared with other dust exposed populations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 541-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Lauren Casey ◽  
Kathleen B. Fedan ◽  
Nicole Edwards ◽  
David J. Blackley ◽  
Cara N. Halldin ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berry J. van Holland ◽  
Sandra Brouwer ◽  
Michiel R. de Boer ◽  
Michiel F. Reneman ◽  
Remko Soer

Author(s):  
Aditi Mahajan ◽  
Peter DeJonge ◽  
Sarang Modi ◽  
Khalil Chedid ◽  
Michael Hayashi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background: Systematic monitoring of exanthema is largely absent from public health surveillance despite emerging diseases and threats of bioterrorism. Michigan Child Care Related Infections Surveillance Program (MCRISP) is the first online program in child care centers to report pediatric exanthema. Methods: MCRISP aggregated daily counts of children sick, absent, or reported ill by parents. We extracted all MCRISP exanthema cases from October 1, 2014 through June 30, 2019. Cases were assessed with descriptive statistics and counts were used to construct epidemic curves. Results: 360 exanthema cases were reported from 12,233 illnesses over 4.5 seasons. Children ages 13-35 months had the highest rash occurrence (45%, n = 162), followed by 36-59 months (41.7%, n = 150), 0-12 months (12.5%, n = 45), and kindergarten (0.8%, n = 3). Centers reported rashes of hand-foot-mouth disease (50%, n = 180), nonspecific rash without fever (15.3%, n = 55), hives (8.1%, n = 29), fever with nonspecific rash (6.9%, n = 25), roseola (3.3%, n = 12), scabies (2.5%, n = 9), scarlet fever (2.5%, n = 9), impetigo (2.2%, n = 8), abscess (1.95, n = 7), viral exanthema without fever (1.7%, n = 6), varicella (1.7%, n = 6), pinworms (0.8%, n = 3), molluscum (0.6%, n = 2), cellulitis (0.6%, n = 2), ringworm (0.6%, n = 2), and shingles (0.2%, n = 1). Conclusion: Child care surveillance networks have the potential to act as sentinel public health tools for surveillance of pediatric exanthema outbreaks.


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