Publications by authors named "Oswaldo Huchim-Lara"

Background: Globally, snakebites have a significant impact on public health and represent substantial costs for health services. Their severity is particularly relevant in developing countries due to the lack of resources and accessibility to health facilities. Additionally, the number of cases may be underestimated, highlighting the urgent need for improved prevention measures.

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Introduction: Artisanal diving fishermen in Yucatán, Mexico have high rates of decompression sickness as a result of frequently unsafe diving practices with surface supplied compressed air. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of dysbaric osteonecrosis (DON), a type of avascular necrosis, in the most susceptible joints in a cohort of these fishermen.

Methods: We performed radiographs of bilateral shoulders, hips, and knees of 39 fishermen in Mexico and surveyed them about their medical and diving histories.

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Introduction/background: Artisanal fishermen dive for sustenance. The lifetime prevalence of decompression sickness (DCS) in this population is alarmingly high. We wanted to understand the level of decompression stress fishermen in this region of the Yucatán experience in their daily fishing effort.

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Article Synopsis
  • Diving is a common fishing method used globally, but divers often suffer from decompression sickness (DCS), which can lead to serious health issues.
  • A 46-year-old male diver from Yucatan experienced chronic pain due to avascular necrosis in his hip, linked to his history of DCS, and required surgery.
  • There is a significant need for increased awareness and training regarding the risks of DCS and dysbaric osteonecrosis in small-scale fishing communities.
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Diving fisheries are an important source of income and protein for many coastal communities around the world. However, these fisheries are also the cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. The aim of this study is to estimate the costs of decompression sickness (DCS) in the diving small-scale fisheries that target benthic resources in the Yucatan, Mexico.

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Introduction: Decompression sickness is endemic to small-scale fishermen-divers from coastal communities in southeast Mexico; overweight and obesity are also highly prevalent in the region. Existing literature suggests it is possible that fat tissue could play a role in decompression sickness pathophysiology. Our aim in this study is to describe the association between the number and severity of DCS events treated at the hyperbaric program and fishermen-diver body mass index.

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Hookah diving is a fishing method used in many small-scale fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, as well as in many coastal fisheries around the world. Many high-value species like sea cucumber and spiny lobster, among others, are harvested via hookah diving. However, the fishing method presents a risk for both decompression illness and carbon monoxide poisoning, both causes of disabilities and death among small-scale fishers, and with significant negative impacts on the social and economic status of households and coastal communities.

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Artisanal fishermen around the world employ scuba and surface-supplied diving for their livelihoods and often undergo provocative dive profiles due to economic pressures. Consequently, rates of decompression sickness (DCS) are much greater than in recreational scuba divers. Here we present the case of a surface-supplied diving fisherman from the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, who suffered a significant episode of spinal DCS and underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments, with a favorable outcome.

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Introduction: In Yucatán, Mexico, during the sea cucumber season fishermen dive intensely to obtain good catches but are often at risk of decompression sickness (DCS). We present a single case fatality.

Objective: We analyzed the clinical course, medical assessment and recompression treatment plan of an untrained fisherman.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study found that diving fishermen in the Yucatán Peninsula face a higher risk of decompression sickness (DCS) compared to other divers, primarily due to their focus on harvesting high-value species like sea cucumbers.
  • A review of 233 treatments for DCS among 166 fishermen from 2014 to 2016 revealed that most had a history of DCS, with musculoskeletal pain being the most common symptom.
  • The research suggests that understanding the fishing practices and motivations of these divers could help reduce health risks and inform regulations related to diving safety.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed chikungunya cases in Mérida, Mexico from July to December 2015, focusing on the epidemiological profile and clinical manifestations across different age groups.
  • A total of 830 patients were treated, with an average age of 27.4 years, and most cases reported contact with the mosquito vector in urban areas.
  • Older patients experienced more muscular and joint issues, while younger patients were more likely to have rashes, but serious neurological symptoms were noted across all age groups, highlighting the need for careful monitoring, especially in infants.
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Artisanal fishermen in the Yucatán Peninsula utilize hookah dive systems (HDS). The air compressors in these HDS are not filtered, and the intake is near the engine exhaust. This proximity allows carbon monoxide (CO) from the exhaust to directly enter the HDS volume tank and contaminate the fishermen diver's air supply.

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An average of 209 cases of decompression sickness (DCS) have been reported every year among artisanal fishermen. divers of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. DCS is a major problem among fishermen divers worldwide.

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