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- Title
Work-related infectious disease reported to the Occupational Disease Intelligence Network and The Health and Occupation Reporting network in the UK (2000–2003).
- Authors
Turner, S.
- Abstract
Background Infectious diseases remain an important cause of self-reported work-related illness, with socio-economic consequences, including sickness absence. Reporting of infectious disease by occupational and specialist physicians is an important tool in the investigation of occupationally related infections and is relevant in their management.Aims To examine the reporting of cases of infectious disease by occupational and specialist physicians to schemes collecting data on occupational ill-health.Methods Cases of infectious disease reported by occupational and specialist physicians to the UK based schemes, Occupational Disease Intelligence Network (ODIN) and The Health and Occupation Reporting network (THOR), from 2000 to 2003 were analysed by reporting patterns, diagnosis, single case or outbreak reporting and industry.Results The total number of estimated cases of infectious disease reported to ODIN and THOR from 2000 to 2003 was 5606; 74.9% cases were diarrhoeal disease, and 11.1% scabies. The majority (81.4%) of cases were reported in SIDAW, where the participation rate for reporters was 55%. Reporting rates were much higher in OPRA, SWORD and EPIDERM (ranging from 86 to 96%). The most frequently reported industrial sectors were social care (39.5%) and health (29.4%); while the manufacture of chemical products contributed 4.3% overall, but 33.8% to estimated cases in OPRA.Conclusions Despite limitations related to under reporting, the occupational and specialist physician schemes in ODIN and THOR provide data that may be used to look at patterns of case reporting for occupational ill-health, including infectious disease. The reporting schemes also provide an important means of alerting peers about potential novel causes, precipitating factors, or industrial sectors associated with occupational disease.
- Subjects
UNITED Kingdom; INDUSTRIAL hygiene; SKIN diseases; OCCUPATIONAL medicine; OCCUPATIONAL diseases; COMMUNICABLE diseases
- Publication
Occupational Medicine, 2005, Vol 55, Issue 4, p275
- ISSN
0962-7480
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/occmed/kqi109