Environmental Medicine Flashcards
Where do certain environmental pathogens come from?
Where we works and do things in our lives
What is the first principle of environmental med?
Environmental and occupational exposure may be small and subtle and can be difficult to diagnose
What is the second principle of environmental med?
These health effects may be found in any member of the population, regardless of age, sex, pre-existing diseases processes or others disabilities
Will every exposure cause effect?
No
What does effect depend on?
Dose
What are the three factors that effects whether a dose will affect a person?
Concentration (amount) of toxin
Duration of exposure
Route of exposure
Occupational exposures?
Can usually make at least some assumptions about specific exposures to workers and route of exposure
Characterization by workplace
Environmental may have exposures that….
Have unknown # of contaminates
Cause exposure by drinking, eating, breathing
Overall exposure are of lower magnitudes
Conscious and can be confounded by other illnesses or diseases
What are the main points in a history to know if someone has been exposed to environmental-related illnesses?
History
Physical exam
Characterization of exposure
How is the history used to investigate the environment?
Screening for all the environments, occupations and other
Someone who lives with a factory worker washing toxin lined clothes
What are some investigative history questions?
Does the problem get worse on weekends or vacations?
Does it improve at work?
Are there particular locations where it is worse?
Association does ____ causation.
DOES NOT
What organs are most sensitive to contamination?
Eyes, skin, respiratory system
What is the main treatment?
Revolves around the identification and removal of the pt from the source of contaminants
What the qualities of a good evaluation?
Done by any practitioner, short time period, ask direct questions
