title: Prevalence of non-specific health symptoms in South Australia.
abstract: Non-specific health symptoms are commonly reported in communities exposed to environmental hazards. However these symptoms commonly occur in the general community as a result of lifestyle factors, illness such as cold and allergy, medical treatment, in addition to environmental and occupational exposures. This paper describes the prevalence of non-specific health symptoms in South Australia. A cross-sectional survey of 3016 persons aged 15 years and over across the State was undertaken. Stuffy nose was the most commonly reported symptoms, with a 2-week prevalence of 46%. Headaches, unusual tiredness, cough, sore throat and itchy eyes were each experienced by at least one in five persons in the previous 2-week period. Symptom reporting was greater among females compared with males and higher in younger age groups. These rates provide a useful reference for rates normally found in a community exposed to a broad range of personal, environmental and occupational factors that may lead to these symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia. eheyworth@dph.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heyworth
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCaul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004782:Environmental Health; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants