• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant surge in glove usage, as recommended by the World Health Organization. Despite efforts to ensure the quality and safety of gloves, glove-associated skin diseases such as hand dermatitis have become ubiquitous, particularly among health care workers. This review discusses the prevalence, causes, and risk factors of hand dermatitis, as well as research efforts in medical gloves in the past decade to overcome glove-related hand dermatitis. Research papers from 2013 to 2022 were reviewed, selecting only 49 relevant papers from the Ovid, PubMed, and Scopus databases. The average prevalence of hand dermatitis among health care workers increased from 21.08% to 37.24% upon the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cases are likely due to allergies to latex proteins, rubber additives, and accelerators commonly found in gloves. Using alternatives to latex gloves, such as accelerator-free and latex-free glove options, can help reduce allergy-induced hand dermatitis. Strict hand hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing and the use of sanitizers, are also contributing factors in contracting hand dermatitis. Over the past decade, glove research advancements have focused mainly on reducing or immobilizing latex proteins. These include the use of biodegradable dialdehyde, sodium alginate, arctigenin, bromelain, papain, UV-LED, prototype photoreactors, and structure-modified nanosilica with silane A174. Two effective hand dermatitis preventive measures, i.e. an additional layer of glove liners and the use of gentle alcohol-based hand sanitizer, were recommended. These advancements represent promising steps towards mitigating hand dermatitis risks associated with glove usage.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to examine the current status of allergic diseases associated with the housing environment and the psychological attitude of residents towards relevant risk factors. This study surveyed 1,200 people. In the first round, 200 participants were questioned through direct survey methods, while 1,000 participants filled out an online survey in the second round. Selected study subjects consisted of allergic diseases known to be closely related to housing environment factors. With advice from medical experts, the analysis included the examination of the prevalence status regarding five types of allergy-related diseases-allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis, asthma and headache-with the range of disease incidence set within the past ten years. The survey was conducted on all age groups except those nine years old and younger, and the findings are as follows. Allergic diseases were found to be more prevalent among women than men. Residents identified effective methods for the alleviation and treatment of allergic diseases as ventilation, use of environmentally-friendly finishing materials, maintenance of a clean living space through cleaning or washing, and sunlight exposure. Residents' understanding of allergic diseases varied depending on their experience with such diseases and residential characteristics.

• Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.182-189
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• 2018

Background and Objectives : There were few literatures about the relationship between upper airway disorders and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, although an association between impaired lower respiratory function and cardiovascular alterations was often reported. Our purpose was to assess the relationships between chronic sinusitis and hypertension. Materials and Methods : Three hundred subjects with bilateral chronic sinusitis who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery between 2015and 2017 were evaluated. Six hundred forty subjects without any nasal diseases were enrolled as a control group. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) were measured using a standardized method, and subjects were asked about current use of any antihypertensive medication, history of diabetes, smoking and alcohol drinking habits.Sinusitis group was assessed by nasal endoscopic examination, paranasal sinus CT scan and allergy test. Results : Average systolic and diastolic blood pressures were statistically significantly higher in subjects with sinusitis than control group. Chronic rhinosinusitis was associated with a 1.415-fold (95% confidence interval 1.053-1.930) increased hazard of hypertension after multivariate adjustment. Conclusions : These results suggest that sinusitis is associated with high blood pressure. Therefore patients with sinusitis may need special attention for blood pressure control. Further studies need to be performed to elucidate the pathogenesis behind such associations.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.11.1-11.6
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• 2011

Objects: The prevalence of asthma has increased in recent decades globally. The objective of the present study is to elucidate whether hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy and low socioeconomic status interact for bronchial hyperreactivity during teenage years. Method: We studied 522 children age 13-14 years attending schools in rural and urban areas to investigate the risk factors for bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), defined as a provocation concentration of methacholine that causes a decrease of 20% ($PC_{20}$) in forced expiratory volume within 1 second. Clinical examination, skin prick test, spirometry, and methacholine challenge were performed on all study subjects, who provided written consent. We used multivariate logistic regression to investigate the risk factors for BHR, and analyze the interaction between hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy and low socioeconomic status. Results: Forty-six (10.3%) positive BHR cases were identified. In the multivariate logistic analysis, as independent predictors of BHR, adjusted odds ratio of bronchiolitis diagnosed before 2 years of age in low income families was 13.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 135.0), compared to reference group, controlling for age, gender, parental allergy history, skin prick test, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. Interaction was observed between bronchiolitis before 2 years old and low socioeconomic status on children's bronchial hyperreactivity (p-interaction=0.025). Conclusions: This study showed that bronchiolitis diagnosed before 2 years of age and low socioeconomic status interacted on children's bronchial hyperreactivity. Prevention of acute respiratory infection in early childhood in low socioeconomic status is important to prevent BHR as a precursor of asthma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2015

The purpose of the study was to investigate mental health and mental health-related factors of adolescents with allergic diseases. Methods: The subjects were 72,060 middle and high school students, the data of whom were extracted from the 2014 Korean Youth' Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Allergic diseases included asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. Mental health was measured by indicators such as perceived stress, depression, and suicidal ideation. To compare the mental health of adolescents who have allergic diseases with that of those who don't, the study used ${\chi}^2-test$ and calculated odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). In addition, the study used ${\chi}^2-test$and multiple logistic regression, calculating OR and 95% CI, to analyze the association between mental health and allergic diseases and other variables. Results: Of 72,060 adolescents who participated in the study, 51.6% had allergic diseases(asthma 9.2%, allergic rhinitis 32.2%, eczema 23.9%). And 37.1% reported perceived stress, 26.6% depression, and 13.1% suicidal ideation. The adolescents with allergic diseases, compared to the adolescents without allergic diseases, were 1.26 times, 1.28 times, and 1.29 times more likely to experience perceived stress, depression, and suicidal ideation, respectively. The mental health-related factors of adolescents with allergic diseases were school type, sex, socioeconomic status, and academic performance. Conclusion: The adolescents with allergic diseases had poorer mental health than the adolescents without the diseases. Further studies should be done to verify this. And based on the study's findings, school-based intervention programs for mental health of adolescents with allergic diseases need to be developed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2008

The objective of the study which utilised population based data was to determine the respiratory condition of elementary school children in Gangneung. From October 9th to December 14th, 2006, Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) including Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratoy Volume in I Second $(FEV_1)$ were conducted on the target group of children using a spirometer. The prevalence of asthmatic symptoms was 29.8% among boys and 39.6% among girls. By using logistic regression, we found that family history of allergic rhinitis (OR=3.90, CI=1.05-14.51), experience of allergic conjunctivitis (OR=4.67, CI=1.54-14.16) and atopic dermatitis (OR=2.86, CI=1.17-7.05) significantly increased the asthmatic symptoms. Also, a family history of asthma and food allergy were associated with asthmatic symptoms. In relation to housing and environmental risk factors, residences under the ground (OR=3.59, CI=1.35-9.51) and big-size dolls (OR=2.71, CI=0.86-8.53) significantly increased the prevalence of asthmatic symptoms. For PFT, above four families, exposure of passive smoking and pets significantly reduced FVC in both groups (p<0.05). In girls, a big-size doll was significantly associated with decreased lung function (FVC and $FEV_1$). In boys, using bed significantly reduced $FEV_1$. Also, the risk of asthmatic symptoms was found to increase when the house has been built for 5 years or more, the house is close to a road $({\leq}100m)$, a gas/Kerosene heater or carpet is utilized within the house. However, their differences were not significant. It is concluded that genetic factor such as a family history of respiratory disease, allergic symptoms and housing risk factor are related to asthmatic symptoms. These results were worth noting because the findings will help address risk factors related respiratory symptoms especially in relation to housing and environment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2013

Background: We investigated the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the health care workers (HCWs) and analyzed its risk factors in South Korea. Methods: A standard questionnaire regarding the baseline demographics and risk factors for LTBI was given to each participant and tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay, and chest radiography were performed. Results: A total of 493 participants, 152 (30.8%) doctors and 341 (69.2%) nurses were enrolled in eight tertiary referral hospitals. The mean age of the subjects was 30.6 years old, and 383 (77.7%) were female. Of the 152 doctors, 63 (41.4%) and 36 (23.7%) were positive by TST and by QTF-GIT, respectively, and among the 341 nurses, 119 (34.9%) and 49 (14.4%) had positive TST and QFT-GIT results, respectively. Overall, the agreement between the two tests was 0.22 by the chance corrected proportional agreement rate (kappa coefficient) in 493 subjects. Experience of working in tuberculosis (TB)-related departments was significantly associated with positive LTBI test results by QFT-GIT assay, not by TST. In multivariate analysis, only age was independently associated with increased risk of a positive TST result, while age and experience of working in TB-related departments (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.12) were independently associated with increased risk of a positive QFT-GIT result. Conclusion: A high prevalence of LTBI was found among South Korean HCWs. Considering the association between the experience of working in TB-related departments and high risk of LTBI, QFT-GIT may be a better diagnostic test for LTBI than TST in HCWs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2008

Asthma and allergic diseases are one of the most common disorders in children. Due to its increased prevalence, as well as the increased morbidity and mortality from these diseases, asthma and allergic diseases have come to be recognized as a major worldwide public health issue. In addition, socioeconomic burden of asthma and allergic diseases has increased in Korea also. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) investigated the worldwide prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases using simple standardized methods because of the comparison of asthma and allergic diseases between the countries. In Korea, several epidemiologic studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence of asthma in children. Although these studies showed increased prevalence of asthma among Korean children (from 3.4% in 1964 to 10.1% in 1989), these findings were based on data from small numbers of subjects. The first Nationwide Study of Asthma and Allergies in Korean Children, which utilized the Korean version of ISAAC written and video questionnaire, was conducted in 1995 and the second Nationwide Study of Asthma and Allergies in Korean Children was conducted in 2000, directed by the Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Diseases. We report here the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in Korean children and adolescents, and show the changes that occurred over this 5 year period. We also describe the risk factors for development of these diseases in Korean children. We developed Korean versions of the ISAAC written (WQ) and video (AVQ) questionnaires for allergic diseases. In 1995, the enrolled population consisted of 25,117 children selected from 34 elementary school and 14,946 children selected from 34 middle school across the nation, the response rate was 94.8%. In 2000, 27,831 children selected from 34 elementary school and 15,214 children selected from 34 middle school, and the response rate was 96.4%. From these studies, we can confirm that increase of the prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in Korea, except the prevalence of food allergy. Especially, the video questionnaire showed increases in the lifetime and 12 month prevalence rates of wheeze at rest, exercise-induced wheeze, nocturnal wheeze, nocturnal cough, and severe wheeze over this period of time in middle school children. In addition, the increase of prevalences of symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis was noted significantly. Risk factor analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), passive smoking and living with a dog or cat were associated with higher risk of wheeze. Also the occurrence of fever during infancy and the frequent use of antibiotics were associated with the risk of wheeze. In conclusion, during the 5 year period from 1995 to 2000, the prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis has increased in Korean children. BMI, passive smoking, living with a dog or cat, the fever episodes in infancy, and the frequent use of antibiotics in infancy are important risk factors to development of asthma and atopic dermatitis. In the near future, the birth cohort study will be needed to investigate the causes of this increase and the natural course of allergic diseases, then we develop the methods to control asthma and allergic diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2009

In the past decade there has been increasing concern about the atopic dermatitis (AD) associated with environmental diseases. AD has been increased in the last decade and known as one of the multifactoral diseases, which has the genetic background and environmental factors at the same time. The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence rate and etiologic risk factors of atopic dermatitis in preschool children in Changwon, which is a one of the Korean cities and has a large industrial complex. We reviewed and analyzed the statistical data, obtained from Korea National Health Insurance Corporation, related to prevalence rate by age and administrative district. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey, based on ISAAC (International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Childhood), was conducted on random samples of preschool children (5 to 8 years old) of large sized kindergartens in Changwon. The lifetime and last one years prevalence of AD in preschool children in Changwon was increased from 1998 to 2008. The prevalence rate of AD in the preschool children in Changwon city was 9.6%. The prevalence rate in boys was 9.7% and that in girls was 9.4%. The one year prevalence of AD was ranked as middle among other provincial cities in Korea in 2008. This study showed that the prevalence rate of the atopic disease in Changwon was 9% in 2008, which was increased especially compare to 2000. More active governmental approaches for control and prevention of atopic dermatitis for children are recommended. Further studies are needed for more accurate estimation of the prevalence of AD in Korea including different regional and age population.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2022

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is not endemic in the Republic of Korea (Korea) with a positivity rate of <1% in stool examination. However, there is a risk of hyperinfection in immunosuppressed individuals. It is necessary to determine the seropositivity of S. stercoralis antibodies in Korea. This study investigated the seropositivity of S. stercoralis antibodies in the southeastern area of Korea. From January 2019 to June 2021, serum samples were collected from participants who visited the study center in the southeastern region of Korea for routine health check-ups. We determined serum levels of specific anti-Strongyloides IgG antibodies in 834 samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed that 92 samples (11.0%) tested showed a positive response. The age of the participants was 51±10.7 years, and 43.4% of them were men. The antibody positivity rate based on the location of the participants' residence were 12.3% (Gyoungsangnam-do), 10.2% (Busan), and 10.1% (Ulsan), respectively. Total eosinophil count was associated with positive test results (154.8±152.0 per mm³ versus 202.1±178.9 per mm³, P=0.006). Logistic regression analysis revealed that blood eosinophil count, age above 50 years, and residence in Sacheon were factors associated with the positive status of S. stercoralis antibody. Our finding suggests that it is necessary to test for S. stercoralis in actual clinical settings in Korea.