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Biomedical subjects

Z Kurtz

Publications and source records attributed to Z Kurtz.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Epilepsy in young people: 23 year follow up of the British national child development study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy during childhood and early adult life in England, Scotland, and Wales. DESIGN: Prospective study of 17,414 children born in England, Scotland, and Wales between 3 and 9 March 1958, followed up at 7, 11, 16, and 23 years of age, with a review of those with epilepsy at age 28. SUBJECTS: People with epilepsy developing at or before age 23. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The age specific incidence, cumulative incidence, and prevalence of epilepsy. RESULTS: 124 young people had a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy during their first 23 years (cumulative incidence 8.4 per 1000; 95% confidence interval 6.8 to 10.0). 6 had died by age 23.46 (37%) had neurological impairment or another major health problem in addition to epilepsy. The prevalence of active epilepsy at age 23 was 6.3 per 1000 (4.9 to 7.7). CONCLUSIONS: A wide variety of seizure disorders is included under the term epilepsy. A third of cases had generalised seizures. In only a quarter was the onset of seizures attributed to a specific cause. Children with additional health problems were more likely to continue to have seizures in early adult life than those with epilepsy alone. 1 in 8 were prescribed drug treatment for 6 years or more after their last seizure. All deaths occurred in young adults over the age of 16.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Children in the criminal justice and secure care systems: how their mental health needs are met.

A study was made of the perceptions among relevant service providers of the mental health needs of young people considered for secure placement. Information was obtained in 1996 from 75% of departments of child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, social services children's services, youth justice, probation, secure units and young offender institutions in England and Wales. The findings confirm that highly disturbed young people, who may be a danger to themselves and others, may present to a wide range of services, and that their mental health needs are neither well recognized, widely understood, nor adequately met. Availability of appropriate levels and types of expertise and resource is patchy and strictly limited, within secure settings and in local community services across all agencies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

STD and HIV screening in general practice: a survey related to termination of pregnancy in south Thames.

It has been recommended that screening for sexually transmitted disease (STDs) be carried out at the time of termination of pregnancy to allow prevention of post-abortion infection. Screening offers the opportunity to treat an infected woman and prevent serious complications following the termination procedure. Our findings indicate that general practitioners (GPs) in South Thames did not routinely carry out screening and few realized it took place at referral centres.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1992

Immunisation status in inner London primary schools.

In one inner London district health authority, the immunisation status of children attending their routine school entry health interview was reviewed over four terms. During the course of these interviews, school nurses completed a questionnaire with parents that asked for their child's immunisation history and details of family and social background. Parental reporting of immunisation history was compared with district health authority records. Only 56% of children reviewed were found to be fully immunised, although a substantial number (386) of the 513 partially immunised children required only a preschool booster. Four percent (54) of the children had received no immunisations; a disproportionately high number of these were recent immigrants. Mechanisms for identifying unimmunised children before they enter communal groups need to be established.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Policies for control of communicable disease in day care centres.

A survey was carried out to identify the availability and quality of guidelines for the prevention and control of communicable disease and procedures in use in child day care centres within the South West Thames Regional Health Authority. A sample of 50 day care centres was investigated including those funded by social services and privately funded day care centres. Policies for the prevention and control of communicable disease for children and staff showed a wide variation between different centres. Exclusion criteria were unclear especially in relation to carriers of the hepatitis B virus and HIV positive children. Channels for reporting and seeking advice were inconsistent. It is recommended that clear and up to date written guidelines on the prevention and control of communicable diseases should be available in all day care centres with clear indications of good practice and channels for reporting and advice. It is desirable that guidelines are agreed by the different health and local authorities throughout the region.

Child Day Care Centers↗
PubMed1988

Changing prevalence of juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus.

Comparison of age-specific prevalence of juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus between 1946 and 1958 British cohort birth studies (up to the ages of 26 and 23, respectively) suggests that the overall prevalence of diabetes in young life has not increased, but the disease is manifest at an earlier age in susceptible individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The management of epilepsy at work.

This paper examines the way in which health problems, resulting from epilepsy, are managed in one large organisation, the British Civil Service. The part played by stress in precipitating epileptic seizures is first of all considered. This leads on to a discussion of the problems of finding a medical regime that, on the one hand, prevents epileptic attacks at work and, on the other, does not result in side effects that adversely affect work performance. The importance of social support is also stressed. The paper concludes by highlighting the need to improve the process whereby information on the requirements of a job are related to information on an individual's epilepsy, in order to determine the risk of their having, or causing, an accident at work.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1988

Headaches in civil servants: effect on work and leisure.

Headaches in a group of civil servants and their effects on work and leisure activities, the medication taken, and numbers consulting their general practitioners during a year were assessed by a self administered questionnaire sent to 1000 civil servants in sections of a government department in London. The response rate was 74.7%. Altogether 77% of the respondents reported having had headaches in the previous 12 months. There was a higher prevalence in women (88%) than men (70%) and a significant decrease with increasing age. Women also had more frequent and severe headaches than men: 34% reported that headaches had interfered with work, either by impaired performance, making them leave work early, or by stopping them coming into work. About half of those who reported having severe headaches denied that they had affected their work, indicating difficulty in interpreting the term "severe." Nevertheless, 22% said that headaches interfered with their leisure activities as well as work which may be regarded as further evidence that the condition was truly disabling. Eighty per cent of those with headaches took medication, but within the past year only 11% had consulted their general practitioner and only 2.2% had been referred for further specialist opinion. Of the 22% who had not had a headache during the previous 12 months, 5.6% had never had a headache. In this group there was a larger proportion of men, a higher proportion with increasing age, and a higher proportion in non-desk working grades. Differentiation of the causes of headaches was not attempted in this survey but it is concluded that the extent to which they interfere with work and leisure is an important guide to their severity. It is suggested that the occupational health services may have an important role in assessing the causes of headaches and instituting preventive measures that benefit both the worker and industry.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

AIDS--a health education challenge.

The current state of knowledge about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is outlined, and current health education advice summarised. Arguments for an intensive, integrated health education campaign to allay fear and promote preventive action are presented.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗