The Medical journal of Australia
-
A recent study of lead levels in the blood of Sydney schoolchildren purported to show "an alarming situation of epidemic proportions", with up to 24% of children in one survey having blood lead levels greater than 25 microgram/100 mL (1.21 mumol/L). In the present study, 446 Victorian children were tested for lead level in venous blood, showing a mean blood lead level of 11.4 microgram/100 mL (0.55 mumol/L), and only six children (1.3%) with blood lead levels in excess of 25 microgram/100 mL (1.21 mumol/L) were found. It is suggested that the blood lead levels in the Sydney study may have been falsely high because of the use of capillary blood samples which are prone to contamination.
-
The case histories of 17 patients in whom urinary retention was associated with an intervertebral disc protrusion which occurred, most commonly, centrally at the lumbar 4/5 level are presented. Strong pleas are made for consideration of this entity in patients with unexplained urinary retention.
-
Allergen skin-prick tests to the common airborne allergens were performed on 534 children with asthma. A positive reaction to one or more allergens was observed in 81%, and the prevalence increased with age. The specific allergen reactions were characteristic with a high prevalence of reactions to house-dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) (88%), house dust (79%, and cat fur (62%), and a low prevalence of grass-pollen reactions (12% to 25%). We found that the diagnosis of atopy could be made in virtually all (96%) of these children by using only three allergens: D. pteronyssinus, cat fur, and rye grass.