[Symptoms related to the use of agricultural pesticides. The perspective from the primary care service].
OBJECTIVE
To find whether agricultural workers seen in the general medical clinic attend due to symptoms connected with the use of pesticides.


METHODS
A crossover descriptive study comparing agricultural workers with a control group.


METHODS
Primary care.


METHODS
The clinical histories of 40 agricultural workers and a control group (sample of 58 paired for age and gender) who had been seen over the previous year.


RESULTS
Age, gender, frequency of attendance, motives for consultation, risk factors and the number of consultations for symptoms possibly due to exposure to pesticides--in line with a previously composed list. There were no differences in frequency of attendance, overall reasons for consultation or risk factors. It was seen that agricultural workers consulted 4 times more than the control group for suspected pesticide poisoning (p = 0.0015).


CONCLUSIONS
In our health area agricultural workers present symptoms which should probably be attributed to insufficient protection against pesticides. The primary care doctor working in rural zones where these products are heavily used must be able to identify these symptoms and take appropriate measures.
Subías Lorén
P J
PJ
Consultori Médic de Sant Pol de Mar., Barcelona.
Salvador Milian
M A
MA
Moragues Farràs
C
C
Casanova Sandoval
J M
JM
Marina Ortega
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain
D010575:Pesticides
Síntomas relacionados con el uso de plaguicidas agrícolas. La perspectiva desde la consulta de atención primaria.