High prevalence of pneumonia in children of a smelter town.

Since German reunification in 1990, most heavy industries in Eastern Germany have been shut down. Although air quality has improved in terms of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter (PM), the content of certain metals in PM in industrial areas is persistently high. Lifetime pneumonia prevalence in schoolchildren born after unification in the heavy-metal industrial area Hettstedt remain elevated.

Determinants of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in elderly people: a systematic review.

Objectives: Despite strong national and international recommendations on immunization practices, rates for influenza (IV) and pneumococcal vaccinations (PV) are low. We aimed to review international immunization rates and to analyze attitudes and beliefs regarding IV and PV.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Antibiotic treatment of community acquired pneumonia varies widely across Germany.

Unlabelled: Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is a frequent and potentially fatal infectious disease which, in the majority of cases, needs an antibiotic intervention.

Objectives: Aim was to evaluate antibiotic treatment patterns regarding all types of mono- and combination-therapy throughout the local clinical centres (LCCs) represented in the German competence network CAPNETZ (=Community Acquired Pneumonia Network) and to identify clinical indicators for regional differences.

Methods: We analysed outpatients and inpatients recruited between March 2003 and April 2005.

Influence of physical inactivity on the prevalence of hay fever.

Background: Atopic diseases constitute a major public health problem, increasing constantly in frequency and severity. While treatments are improving, the main cause for an increasing trend of hay fever and its definite triggers remain unclear. The aim of our study was to assess whether physical inactivity could be a risk factor for hay fever.

Swimming pool attendance and hay fever rates later in life.

Background: Exposure to chlorination by-products through swimming pool attendance showed adverse health effects on children. The aim of our study was to assess whether pool attendance in childhood would be related to higher rates of allergic diseases in adulthood, with special regard to hay fever.

Methods: 2606 adults aged 35-74 years provided retrospectively collected information on swimming pool attendance and medical history, including data on atopic diseases.