International Maritime Health最新文献

There are many species of animals in the marine environment which are potentially dangerous to humans. Cnidarians that are responsible for burns are mainly found in tropical waters, but there are several species with cosmopolitan distribution. In some cases, contact with toxins from Cnidarians can cause symptoms of acute kidney damage. Because of an enormous diversity of the toxins produced by individual species of cnidaria, the mechanisms of renal damage are different in different cases. Currently, there is only one antitoxin available to treat burns by Cnidarians, this antitoxin can neutralize the toxin produced by Chironex fleckeri. However, recent studies on animal models give hope for the introduction of a universal biological agent that would be capable of inhibiting the activity of toxins produced by a variety of Cnidaria species.

Myiasis, an infestation caused by dipteran larvae, commonly known as maggots, is one of the most common parasitic skin disorders in the tropical regions. Authors report a case of cutaneous myiasis caused by Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Oestridae) in a Polish traveller returning from a self-organized trip to South America. Species biology, prophylaxis, and medical implications of this tropical parasitosis are discussed.

Medical hyperbaric sessions for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, conducted at 2.4-2.5 ATA for 80 to 120 minutes, expose staff to increased risk of DCS due to the inhalation of compressed air, which increases gas solubility in body fluids as per Henry's Law. This study evaluates the incidence and risk factors of decompression sickness (DCS) among medical personnel in a hyperbaric centre over a 25-year period. Decompression sickness, characterized by gas bubble formation in tissues during planned decompression, was documented in 6 cases among 41,507 sessions. Symptoms varied from mild cutaneous to severe neurological manifestations, dependent on bubble size and location. Risk factors identified include age, physical condition, dehydration, and BMI. Preventative measures included adherence to decompression protocols, hydration, oxygen pre-breathing, and physical fitness maintenance. Despite these precautions, the occurrence of DCS underscores the inherent occupational risk faced by hyperbaric medical staff. The study advocates for stringent safety protocols and continuous monitoring to mitigate this risk.

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Background: Hajj and Umrah mass gatherings (MGs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amplify the risk of viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs), but there is a lack of comparative data from these two MGs. This study aims to compare pilgrims' hand hygiene knowledge, practices, and rates of RTIs during the peak periods of Umrah and Hajj in 2021.

Materials and methods: The datasets of this comparative study were obtained from two previously conducted studies that used similar study tools and identical syndromic definitions. The binary logistic regression was applied to compare the categorical variables and, a t-test was used to compare the continuous variables.

Results: A total of 510 Hajj pilgrims and 507 Umrah pilgrims were recruited. The majority of Hajj pilgrims (68%) were ≥ 40 years old, while most Umrah pilgrims (63%) were < 40 years old. The mean total knowledge scores of hand hygiene between the Hajj and Umrah pilgrims differed significantly (4.1 vs. 3.7, respectively, p < 0.001) so did their compliance with frequent use of alcohol-based hand rubs (53.0% vs. 36.3%, respectively, p < 0.001) and the rates of RTIs (4.7% vs. 2.2%, respectively, p = 0.05).

Conclusions: These differences could be attributable to the distinctive characteristics of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, and the unique differences in risks posed by those MGs.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the existence of psychological pathologies and psychosocial risks among seafarers, particularly merchant navy officers. To date, there is no study of merchant navy officer cadets. First aims are to assess anxiety and depression disorders, framework, work strain and social support in this population.

Materials and methods: A questionnaire including demographic and sailing data to which we added the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and Karasek questionnaire was developed. All students were approached and completed the questionnaire anonymously by electronic means.

Results: One hundred and seventy questionnaires could be included. The population was predominantly male (76.4%), and the average age of the students was 21.7 years. The means of the HAD anxiety and HAD depression were 6.9 and 5.37, respectively. According to Karasek classification, we noted that the "active" class was the most represented with 29.4% of students, followed by the "high strain" and "low strain" classes with 27.6%. The "passive" class was the least represented with 15.3%.

Conclusions: We found a predominance of anxiety disorders but few signs of depression. Signs of "high strain" according to Karasek were found in 27.6% of the population of these young officers. Job demand was linked to mean of anxiety and depression disorders declared in HAD questionnaire. Being a woman was associated with anxiety but not depression symptoms. Prevention programme to decrease the level of job demand and increase decision latitude and social support seems relevant for mental health disorders in merchant officers.

Background: Seafaring is a demanding profession that exposes individuals to unique health risks and challenges. This study investigates risk classification patterns among seafarers who underwent physical and medical examination at the Nordic Medical Clinic, a pre-employment clinic in the Philippines.

Materials and methods: The analysis involved data obtained from medical records, including demographic information, diagnoses, medical risk classification, corresponding management, and occupational details. medical risk classification, based on guidelines from the Philippine Department of Labour and Employment, categorised fit to work seafarers into risk class A, B, or C. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests, with a significance level set at p < 0.05, were utilised for data analysis using R Studio (version 4.2.3).

Results: The study population consisted of 11,831 seafarers seen at the Nordic Medical Clinic between 2018 and 2022. The results revealed a significant proportion of seafarers falling into higher risk classifications, with risk class C being the most prevalent at 48.16%. Pre-employment medical examinations (PEME) to fit to work duration demonstrated a significant association with risk classification, revealing that lower-risk classes had shorter fit-to-work times compared to higher-risk classes. Moreover, risk classification exhibited uneven distribution across specific demographic and occupational characteristics, with older seafarers, males, married individuals, and those in higher-ranking positions having a higher proportion of risk class C.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for comprehensive and customised pre-boarding medical screening standards for seafarers based on factors such as their specific role, vessel type, voyage, contract length, and work location. Moreover, health implementation of health promotion and preventive strategies that are based on the specific occupational and demographic needs of the seafarers are needed.