[Diagnosing occupational diseases. Examples from shellfish industry.].

It is very important to report suspected occupational diseases in Iceland to the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, so they can be diagnosed, investigated in details and improvements made. This article describes the illness of clam workers at Thornórshöfn, a small village in the northern part of Iceland. It lead to a detailed investigation and the diagnosis of clamworkers hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

[European Community Respiratory Health Survey: The main results so far with special reference to Iceland.].

Introduction: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) was the first project embarked on extensive study of geographical difference between countries with regards to asthma and atopy incidence in a young adult population. The same methodology and definitions were used at all study sites. The purpose of this article is to review the published results of the ECRHS with a special emphasis on the findings from the Icelandic population, and compare these results with those from the participants from the other nations and study sites.

[Anaphylaxis.].

Anaphylaxis is a life threatening medical emergency in which the possibility for patient morbidity and mortality is high. It is the most serious of allergic disorders. An understanding of the pathophysiology of anaphylaxis and recognition of symptoms is paramount for its diagnosis.

[Insect hypersensitivity in Iceland.].

In this article we review allergic reactions to stinging insects (hymenoptera) and biting insects (mosquitoes). We describe the first proven case of sensitization and anaphylaxis to hymenoptera in an Icelander. Yellow jackets, honeybees, paper wasps and hornets cause most sting reactions.

[Treatment pattern and results in an outpatient population with type 2 diabetes in Iceland.].

Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major health problem all over the world. The prevalence of the disease is increasing markedly. Healthcare cost associated with type 2 diabetes is high and the long-term diabetic complications account for the greatest proportion of direct cost.