Clinical and radiological prevalence of skeletal fluorosis among retired employees of Wonji-Shoa sugar estate in Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical and radiological prevalence of skeletal fluorosis among the retired employees of Wonji-Shoa sugar estate.


METHODS
Retrospective and cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Wonji-Shoa sugar estate, an agro-industrial estate located in the Ethiopian Rift Valley.


METHODS
Two hundred and sixty three employees of the estate who retired between 1995 and 1996.


METHODS
Clinical evidence of impaired squatting, neck and lumbar mobility, kyphosis, and X-ray evidence of fluorosis.


RESULTS
Skeletal fluorosis was more evident among the males (p<0.05), and the prevalence was higher among the factory and the agricultural workers than among the administrative workers (p<0.05). Clinical prevalence was 20% versus the radiological prevalence of 70.3%, indicating that many cases were asymptomatic. Impaired neck and lumbar mobility and impaired squatting significantly agreed with the radiological diagnosis (p<0.05) while kyphosis was not.


CONCLUSIONS
Further clinical and epidemiological studies are suggested and strengthening of the existing defluoridation programmes within the area is recommended.
Assefa
G
G
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Shifera
G
G
Melaku
Z
Z
Haimanot
R T
RT
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005458:Fluoride Poisoning / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013549:Sweetening Agents
D013549:Sweetening Agents