Guidelines for school programs to prevent skin cancer

"Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Since 1973, new cases of the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma, have increased approximately 150%. During the same period, deaths from melanoma have increased approximately 44%. Approximately 65%-90% of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. More than one half of a persons lifetime UV exposure occurs during childhood and adolescence because of more opportunities and time for exposure. Exposure to UV radiation during childhood plays a role in the future development of skin cancer. Persons with a history of > or = 1 blistering sunburns during childhood or adolescence are two times as likely to develop melanoma than those who did not have such exposures. Studies indicate that protection from UV exposure during childhood and adolescence reduces the risk for skin cancer. These studies support the need to protect young persons from the sun beginning at an early age. School staff can play a major role in protecting children and adolescents from UV exposure and the future development of skin cancer by instituting policies, environmental changes, and educational programs that can reduce skin cancer risks among young persons. This report reviews scientific literature regarding the rates, trends, causes, and prevention of skin cancer and presents guidelines for schools to implement a comprehensive approach to preventing skin cancer. Based on a review of research, theory, and current practice, these guidelines were developed by CDC in collaboration with specialists in dermatology, pediatrics, public health, and education; national, federal, state, and voluntary agencies; schools; and other organizations. Recommendations are included for schools to reduce skin cancer risks through policies; creation of physical, social, and organizational environments that facilitate protection from UV rays; education of young persons; professional development of staff involvement of families; health services; and program evaluation." - p. 1Introduction -- Burden of skin cancer -- Risk factors for skin cancer -- Protective behaviors -- Concerns regarding promoting protection from UV radiation -- -- Guidelines for school programs to prevent skin cancer -- Schools as settings for skin cancer prevention efforts -- -- Skin Cancer Prevention Guidelines -- Guideline 1: Policy -- Guideline 2: Environmental change -- Guideline 3: Education -- Guideline 4: Family involvement -- Guideline 5: Professional development -- Guideline 6: Health services -- Guideline 7: Evaluation -- -- Conclusion -- References -- Appendix A. Public health action steps from the International Agency for Research on Cancer -- Appendix B . Sunscreen: how to select, apply, and use it correctly -- Appendix C. Skin cancer education resources"April 26, 2002"Prepared by: Karen Glanz, Mona Saraiya, Howell Wechsler."The material in this report was prepared for publication by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, James S. Marks, M.D., M.P.H., Director; the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Nancy C. Lee, M.D., Director; and the Division of Adolescent and School Health, Lloyd J. Kolbe, Ph.D., Director." - p. 1Cover title."U.S. Government Printing Office: 2002-733-100/69018 Region IV."--P. [4] of cover.Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 12-16)

Biological Terrorism

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the subsequent mail-borne anthrax attack of October 2001, it has become dear that health care providers may be called upon to respond to victims of terrorism. Biological terrorism (BT), in particular, involves the use of virulent agents with the intent to cause mass casualties and/or induce fear, a scenario that if effected will severely strain the capacity of regional emergency medical services and pose unique management challenges to clinicians confronted with victimized children. Whether practicing as a pediatric emergency medicine specialist working in an urban children's hospital or as a general clinician in private office-based practice, pediatricians may be the first to suspect that a BT agent may have been utilized. Compared to adults, most caregivers have a relatively low threshold for having children and infants evaluated professionally when they become sick. Furthermore, pediatric patients may have a more rapid or severe response to a biological agent, potentially putting pediatricians and child care providers in the critical position of being the first to diagnose an exposure. The clinician's response to such a situation may determine whether the incident is controlled promptly or whether it evolves into a large-scale epidemiologic catastrophe

Clinical characteristics of children with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) admitted in a single institution

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of children diagnosed with the novel influenza A (H1N1) in the winter of 2009 at a single medical institution.MethodsOut of 545 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) in children, using the real time RT-PCR method at Kosin University Gospel Hospital from September to December of 2009, 149 patients and their medical records were reviewed in terms of symptoms, laboratory findings, complications and transmission within a family.ResultsMedian age of subjects was 7 years (range: 2 months-18 years). New cases increased rapidly from September to reach a peak in November, then declined rapidly. Most frequently observed symptoms were fever (96.7%), cough (73.2%), rhinorrhea (36.9%) and sore throat (31.5%). Average body temperatures on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd hospital day were 38.75±0.65℃, 38.08±0.87℃ and 37.51±0.76℃, respectively. Complete blood counts and biochemical tests performed on the first admission day showed within the reference values in most cases. Of the 82 patients with simple chest radiography, 18 (22%) had pneumonic lesions; multi-focal bronchopneumonia in eleven, single or multi-segmental lobar pneumonia in five, and diffuse interstitial pneumonia in two patients. All of the 149 patients improved from their symptoms and discharged within 9 days of admission without any late complication.ConclusionChildren with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) at our single institution displayed nonspecific symptoms and laboratory findings, resembling those of common viral respiratory illnesses, and did not appear to develop more severe disease

Hepatitis a among men who have sex with men in Barcelona, 1989-2010: insufficient control and need for new approaches

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a known group at risk for hepatitis A and outbreaks among this group are frequent. In Barcelona, vaccination for MSM has been recommended since 1994. In 1998 a vaccination campaign among preadolescents was implemented and an immunization program in gay bathhouses began in 2004. Objective: to asses the incidence of hepatitis A in adults in Barcelona from 1989 to 2010 and to evaluate the outbreaks among MSM including all genotypes involved.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All cases of acute hepatitis A among young adults notified to the Public Health Agency of Barcelona from 1989 to 2010 were included for analyses. We calculated the annual incidence rate and the incidence ratio male-to-female (M:F) as a marker for MSM. Spearman's coefficient was used to evaluate trends. We also evaluated the outbreaks among MSM and compared their characteristics using Chi-squared and ANOVA test. Fragment amplification of the VP1/P2A region was used for genetic analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median annual incidence for the period of study was 4.7/100000 among females and 11.7/100000 among males. The rate of hepatitis A for adult woman decreased over time (Spearman' coefficient = -0.63, <it>p </it>= 0.002), whereas there was no decrease for adult men (Spearman' coefficient = 0.097, <it>p </it>= 0.67). During the study period the M:F ratio increased (Spearman' coefficient = 0.73, <it>p </it>< 0.001).</p> <p>Three large outbreaks among MSM were detected. When comparing outbreaks, there was a decrease in the percentage of bathhouse users (from 47% to 19%, <it>p </it>= 0.0001) and sex workers (from 6.5% to 0%) while the percentage of HIV infected individuals did not change significantly (range: 21%-28%, <it>p </it>= 0.36). The isolated strains were closely related to those circulating in Europe.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Annual incidences remain high among MSM without tendency to decrease. More strategies which effectively reach the whole MSM community are needed.</p