Reported occupational respiratory diseases in three Spanish regions.

Background: In 2002, a voluntary registry of occupational respiratory diseases was initiated in the test phase in Asturias, Catalonia, and Navarre (Spain). Based on data from the fully implemented voluntary registry, we assessed the differences in the incidence and characteristics of the diseases reported in the three regions studied and compared them with those notified to the compulsory official system.

Methods: Physicians whose daily practice includes patients with occupational respiratory diseases were invited to participate.

[Treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis].

The treatment of tuberculosis is important both to preserve the health of the patient and to prevent the spread of the disease amongst the population. Its bacteriological bases are found in the high number of bacillae existing in the majority of human TB lesions and the capacity to mutate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis when it achieves a high number of divisions; this makes it essential to associate drugs that avoid the selection of resistant mutants. In our setting the pharmacological therapy that has shown greatest efficacy consists in the association during two months of isoniacide, rifampicine and pyrazinamide followed by four additional months with the first two drugs.

[Registry of occupational respiratory diseases in Navarre].

Background: In January 2002 an occupational respiratory diseases record was established in Navarre so that the number and characteristics of the occupational respiratory pathology could be analysed.

Methods: The cases reported by doctors who collaborated in 2002, 2003 and 2004, were entered in a database for subsequently analysis. This database has several variables: gender, age, tobacco habit, hospital department and notifying doctor, diagnosis, job and causal agent.

[Building related ilness].

Following the changes carried out in recent years in buildings, such as ventilation systems, computers, etc., a series of diseases, that are related to this, have been described. This paper concentrates on the syndrome of the sick building, which is formed by a group of symptoms normally suffered by workers in the same "sick" building.