Impact of - IDL-BNC @ IDRC - International Development Research ...

However, based on individual complaints, there were significant differences
between exposed and control populations with regard to neuropsychiatric
and certain other problems. Complaints regarding skin conditions were more
commonly reported in the exposed rural group and chest and upper respiratory
tract dysfunction was more common among the urban exposed group.
Abdominal complaints were similar for all groups.
Medical examinations revealed significantly more neurological, psychiatric,
and liver disorders among the exposed groups.
Polyneuropathy was significantly more common among exposed workers
(37.33%) than in the control group (7%). The typical clinical presentation was
a worker with several years' exposure, complaining of general ill-health,
paresthesia (30.33% of all exposed workers), impotence (18.67%), depressed
tendon reflexes, stock and glove hypoesthesia with muscle twitches and
hypotonia occurring in some of the workers. Optic neuropathy and diminution
of visual acuity were found, especially among the rural exposed workers.
The polyneuropathy was generally mild and mainly sensory, although there
was evidence of more severe neuropathy with distal wasting and weakness
of the muscles of both the upper and the lower limbs in some cases. All
neurological findings were more prominent among older workers and those
exposed for a longer period. Neurobehavioural symptoms and signs in the
exposed workers appeared to be related to duration of exposure.
Abdominal abnormalities were more common in the rural exposed group.
Enlargement of the liver was frequent and associated in some with tenderness,
more characteristic of pesticide intoxication than bilharziasis. On the other
hand, signs related to the cardiorespiratory system, including atherosclerosis
and hypertension with cardiac asthma, were more common among the urban
workers (p