Working Eight To Four Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hepatitis A virus (HAV)

Hepatitis A virus is spread through food and water that has been contaminated with infected fecal material. It may also spread by contact with an infected person. It is not sexually transmitted nor through the blood-borne route.

Hepatitis B, HIV and hepatitis C are important occupational infections for healthcare workers to know about and protect themselves from. Surgeons, nurses, dentists, laboratory workers, etc. are examples of those at risk of these occupational infections. Healthcare workers are advised to wear personal protective gear when handling infectious body fluids including blood. There are protocols that healthcare workers are required to follow if they ever have a needle-stick injury.

Answer: Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani is an anaerobic, non-spore forming bacillus, which is commonly found in soil and other parts of the environment. It infects a human through non-intact skin on wounds and injuries. Symptoms include lockjaw and muscle spams. Farm and forestry workers are at risk of this infection as they work with soil very often. Tetanus is preventable by immunisation.

Answer: Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is caused by the spirochete bacteria Leptospira. It is transmitted by contact with animal urine or contaminated water that has been infected. The bacteria enters the body through the mucous membrane or through wounds, etc. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, jaundice, abdominal pain and rashes. Sewage workers, dog handlers, farm workers and veterinary practitioners are at higher risk of this infection. Treatment involves administration of antibiotics and other supportive therapies, especially in cases that are severe.

Answer: Byssinosis

Byssinosis is a disease of the pulmonary system or respiratory system. It has a strong association with exposure to cotton dust, so those who work closely with raw cotton, hemp or flax are at risk of developing this disease. Symptoms include wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.

This disease can be prevented by providing workers at risk with the proper protective equipment such as masks.

Answer: Urinary bladder cancer

Bladder cancer was strongly linked with the exposure to 2-naphthylamine which was used in making azo dyes. It was later replaced by substances which were not as toxic. Bladder cancer is an occupational hazard linked to exposure to aromatic amines, arsenic, etc. Industries at risk include printing, metal working and coal gas works.

Answer: Parkinson's disease

Manganese is a trace element that is required by the body. Chronic exposure to manganese has been observed to cause a disease with Parkinson's-like symptoms. Other respiratory and neurological manifestations were also observed with manganese toxicity. This condition is also called manganism and it is relatively rare in the twenty-first century.

Answer: No association with cancer

Asbestosis is a condition which belongs to a group of diseases called pneumoconiosis. Asbestosis is due to chronic exposure to asbestos and its latent period is long. It usually occurs around 20-40 years into exposure. Symptoms include cough and breathlessness.

There is an increased risk of lung cancer in patients with asbestosis. There is no specific cure or treatment that is available to arrest progress of the disease.

Answer: Arc eye

Unprotected eye exposure to arc welding is known to cause a type of conjunctivitis called arc eye. Arc eye is usually treated with a local anesthetic and a mydriatic drug. Exposure to welding can also cause welder's flash which manifests as photophobia, lacrimation and headache. Welder's flash does not leave any long lasting effects and a full recovery can be expected.

Answer: Thermoactinomyces sacchari

Thermoactinomyces sacchari causes the disease bagassosis. These bacteria are related to the dust of bagasse, which comes from sugarcane residue. This condition, bagassosis, is a form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) which are basically diseases that affect the lower part of the respiratory system and are caused by specific substances (antigens) that trigger an immune response.

Answer: Acute myeloid leukemia

Chronic exposure to benzene has been strongly linked to acute myeloid leukemia. Exposure to ionizing radiation can also cause this cancer. Exposure to benzene can also cause dysfunction in the production of blood cells from bone marrow leading to another hematological condition, called aplastic anemia.