AN OVERVIEW Gordon Nyakiti Kenya School of Agriculture P.O.

1909 10100 Nyeri

Definition
Occupational diseases are disease conditions which result out of or in connection with ones occupation. These diseases always have a direct causal relationship between work hazards & the disease process. E.g. Lead>>Lead poisoning, Silica dust >> Silicosis, Benzene >> Hepatitis, Epoxy resins >> Allergies, asbestos >> asbestosis e.t.c.

KEY CONCEPTS
Most occupational diseases do not have a cure. They

cause permanent/irreversible damage to ones health.

Most effective control method is prevention.

Other factors that play a role in addition to workplace hazard exposure. 1) Individual susceptibility 2) Age 3) Personal characteristic and Social Culture factors 4) Amount of exposure (Dose) 5) Duration of exposure (Time) 6) Extent and type of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, skin) 7) Nutritional status 8) Prevailing health status

Examples of occ. diseases/injuries

Poison by: lead, manganese, mercury, benzene, cadmium,

phosphorous, arsenic etc or their cpds Anthrax, glanders, leptospira icterohaemorrhagieae & l.canilola etc- handling animals/animal products Dystroply of the cornea-exposure to arsenic, tar, bitumen, mineral oil (including kerosene), soot or their cpds Heat cataract- prolonged exposure to rays from molten or red hot materials Beat hand, Beat knee, Beat elbow (subcutaneous cellulitis)manual labour causing severe friction or pressure on the hand, knee, elbow

 Inflammation/ulceration of the mucous membranes

of the upper respiratory passage or mouth- dust, liquid or vapour Non-infective dermatitis- dust, liquid, or vapour or any other external agent including heat Pulmonary disease- inhalation of dust of mouldy hay, other mouldy vegetable produce Cancers eg asbestos cause lung cancer (mesothelioma) Adeno-carcinoma of the nasal cavity- where wooden furniture is manufactured. Pneumoconiosis- silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis, baggasosis Various carcinoma- exposure to various chemicals or substances

 Occupational diseases manifest in different forms. In

Manifestations of occupational diseases in the body

each of the systems, the following manifestations can occur;

1.Skin burns, allergy, skin rash, cancer 2.MSS aches, pains, sprain, tremors, fatigue. 3.CNS confusion, hallucinations, coma, sensation abnormalities, tremors, paralysis, poor coordination, cancer. 4.RS sneezing, coughing, difficulty in breathing, cancer. 5.GIT diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cancer. 6.Liver hepatitis, liver failure, cancer.

7.Renal nephritis, nephritic syndrome, kidney failure, cancers. 8.Reproductive system infertility, impotence, erectile dysfunction, deformities in newborns, cancers. 9.Blood anaemia, recurrent infections due to low white blood cell count, bleeding disorders, cancer. 10.Eyes itchiness, reduced vision, pain excess tearing, blindness, cancer. 11. Ears reduced hearing, deafness, cancer.