Respiratory Public Health Flashcards
define epidemiology
the branch of medicine which deals with the incidence, distribution and possible control of diseases and other factor relating to health
hypersensitive pneumonitis AKA extrinsic allergic alveolitis
inflammation of the alveoli within the lung cause by hypersensitivity to inhaled organic dusts (commonly from occupation/ hobbies)
pneumonoconiosis
an occupational and a restrictive lung disease caused by inhalation of dust, often in mines and from agriculture
examples of extrinsic allergic alveolitis
farmer's lung bird breeder's lung cheese worker's lung mollusc shell hypersensitivity paprika splitter's lung
examples of pneumoconiosis
asbestosis
silicosis
coal worker’s lung
berylliosis
how is chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis recognised on CT?
extensive fibrosis with honeycombing and air trapping
treatment is focussed on antigen avoidance
asbestosis
chronic inflammatory and scarring disease (fibrotic disease)affecting the tissue of the lungs. It is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres
asbestos
three types: blue, brown and white.
Blue is easiest to stir and so is prone to causing disease
mesothelioma
type of cancer which develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal organs (mesothelium). Most commonly affected area is the pulmonary pleurae.
Asbestos can cause mesothelioma (malignant thickening of the pleura)
The risk of developing lung cancer from asbestos is almost twice that of developing it from smoking. True/ False?
True.
RR (relative risk) in asbestos = 6
RR in smoking = 3.8
(RR in asbestos AND smoking = 10)
define “synergistic effect”
when interaction between two or more things produces a greater effect than if you added the things on their own
e.g. RR of lung cancer is 30-50 times higher with exposure to both asbestos and smoking
Name environmental sources of lung disease
asbestos mould cooking smoke passive smoking nanoparticles air/ traffic pollution
What is DALY (Disability-adjusted Life Year)?
A measure of overall disease burden, expressed as the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death
What is the significance of cotinine?
It’s a metabolic byproduct of nicotine, which is measured in blood or urine, remains in saliva for a long time after exposure. Its presence in non-smokers indicated their level of tobacco smoke exposure and risk for disease caused by second-hand smoke.
Components of air pollution?
CO2 from exhausts and energy production
methane from exhausts and industry
CFCs from refrigerants and propellants
NOs from exhausts and industry
Ozone from air
Soot and particulate matter from exhausts and industry
Greenhouse effect
Raised UV radiation (result of ozone destruction)
Acid rain - acidification of rainforests (they die)
