1-Environmental pathology

Question 1

How is the environment defined in the context of environmental pathology?

Answer 1

The environment is defined as the complexity
of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (such as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism and ultimately determine its form and survival.

Question 2

What is environmental pathology?

Answer 2

Environmental pathology refers to conditions or diseases caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents in the workplace and personal environment, including diseases of nutritional origin.

Question 3

What agents are included in environmental pathology?

Answer 3

Environmental pathology includes:

Infective agents: Pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Non-infective agents: Chemical and physical agents.

Question 4

What are examples of
chemical agents?

Answer 4

Environmental pollution
Industrial and household materials
Drugs (both therapeutic and recreational)

Question 5

What diseases are caused by physical agents?

Answer 5

Trauma (kinetic force)
Thermal changes (heat and cold)
Radiation

Question 6

What are some common environmental and occupational exposures?

Answer 6

Personal exposures
Therapeutic drugs
Outdoor and indoor air pollution
Industrial exposures
Agricultural hazards
Natural toxins
Radiation injury
Physical environment

Question 7

What are the WHO key areas for environmental health?

Answer 7

Clean air
Stable climate
Adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene
Safe use of chemicals and protection from radiation
Safe workplaces
Good agricultural practices
Health-supportive cities
Preserved nature

Question 8

What diseases are attributable to WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)?

Answer 8

Diarrheal disease
Acute respiratory infections
Undernutrition
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (worms)

Question 8

How is diarrhea defined?

Answer 8

Diarrhea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day. It is mostly a symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract caused by various bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Question 8

How do different interventions reduce the risk of diarrheal disease incidence

Answer 8

Hand washing reduces risk by 54%
Exclusive breastfeeding reduces risk by 40%
Improved sanitation reduces risk by 32%
Health education reduces risk by 28%
Improved water supply reduces risk by 25%
Unhygienic practices increase risk by 23%

Question 9

What are some interventions for preventing WASH-attributable diseases?

Answer 9

Access to safe drinking water
Improved sanitation
Hand washing with soap
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life
Good personal and food hygiene
Health education about how infections spread
Rotavirus vaccine

Question 9

What are the signs of severe dehydration in infants?

Answer 9

Lethargy or unconsciousness
Sunken eyes
Drinking poorly or not able to drink
Severe decrease in skin turgor (skin pinch returning ≥ 2 seconds)

Question 10

Who is at greatest risk of dehydration due to diarrhea?

Answer 10

Young children (under 5 years) and the elderly are at the greatest risk of dehydration due to diarrhea.

Question 10

what are the signs of some dehydration in infants

Answer 10

Restless or irritable
Eyes sunken
Thirsty, drinks eagerly
Moderate decrease in skin
turgor – by slow skin pinch,
returning in < 2 seconds)

Question 11

What are the treatments for diarrhea in adults?

Answer 11

No medicines for first 24 hours
Oral rehydration solution (ORS) or SSS (home-made salt + sugar solution)
Adequate fluid intake (oral intake or NaCl IV)
Loperamide (anti-diarrheal medicine)

Question 12

Should antidiarrheals be used in the management of acute diarrhea in children?

Answer 12

No, antidiarrheals should not be used.

Question 13

What is the mainstay of treatment for acute diarrhea in children?

Answer 13

oral rehydration or salt + sugar solution

Question 13

What are the treatments for diarrhea in infants

Answer 13

No antidiarrheals in management of
paeds for acute diarrhoea
ORS or SSS mainstay of treatment
Adequate fluid intake (oral intake or NaCl
IV)
Oral Zinc – Mineral supplementation

Question 14

When should you refer a patient after ORS treatment?

Answer 14

Refer if there is no improvement, condition deteriorates, poor drinking/feeding, blood in stool, fever develops, sunken eyes, or slow skin pinch (turgor).

Question 14

What valuable components can be found in e-waste?

Answer 14

Copper from wires, gold from computer chips, other materials from cathode tubes, cadmium from batteries.

Question 15

What are the potential hazards of e-waste?

Answer 15

Hazardous substances may be released into the environment or exposed to people involved in the recycling process.

Question 15

Hazardous substances may be released into the environment or exposed to people involved in the recycling process.

Answer 15

Hazardous substances may be released into the environment or exposed to people involved in the recycling process.

Question 16

What is the main treatment for heavy metal poisoning?

Answer 16

Terminate exposure to the metal.

Question 17

What are chelating agents used for in heavy metal poisoning?

Answer 17

They bind with the metal toxin and are excreted in the urine

Question 18

What other supportive therapies are used for heavy metal poisoning?

Answer 18

Gastric lavage, hemodialysis, mannitol diuretic & corticosteroids.