title: Air quality and seasonal variations in consultations for respiratory, allergic, dermatological and gastrointestinal diseases in Bahrain, 2007.
abstract: Environmental health data in Bahrain are scarce. This study in 4 governorates of Bahrain aimed to establish baseline data on the seasonal prevalence of certain disease groups that are sensitive to climate (respiratory, allergic, dermatological and non-specific gastrointestinal diseases) over a 1-year period and to record local climate and air pollutant data for the same year. A 5% sample of medical records for those who attended primary health-care centres during 2007 was taken. Visit rates for all 4 diseases had peaks, in spring and in autumn, with the lowest rates in the summer season when the average temperatures were highest and average humidity was lower. Respiratory-related visits were highest when the air concentrations of SO2 were highest. An ongoing surveillance system for climate-sensitive diseases should be initiated to monitor and relate health and environmental trends.
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.
authors: R R
authors: RR
authors: Hamadeh
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Al-Roomi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001445:Bahrain / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires