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Biomedical subjects

R Mühlemann

Publications and source records attributed to R Mühlemann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Swarms of starlings in Basel: a natural phenomenon, a nuisance or a health risk?].

A Natural Phenomenon, Molestation or a Health Risk? For the last two decades an avenue in the centre of Basel (Altrheinweg, Klybeckquartier) is known as site for overnight accommodation and assembly of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) during autumn. The nightly visitors cause an immense contamination that directly affects a nursery and a primary school. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the health risk for the population due to the starlings' droppings, particularly for the children from the nursery school. Between August and December of the years 1995 and 1996 the population of starlings was observed, the contamination of the area with faeces was quantified, the presence of microorganisms in the faeces was determined and the contamination of the soil from the Altrheinweg was compared with that from other avenues and parks. Furthermore, the children attending the nursery school were monitored for possible infections due to the birds' droppings. In mid-October, when the population of starlings reached their maximum of about 15,000 birds, 1053 defecations per night and square metre were counted on an average in 1995 and 1821 in 1996. The microbiological analysis of the starlings' faeces showed a high contamination with Campylobacter spp. (1995: 95.5%; 1996: 100%), L. monocytogenes (1995: 36.5%; 1996: 26.7%) and C. psittaci (1995: 40.5%), a lower contamination with Salmonella spp. (1995: 1.0%), S. aureus (1995: 2.0%), Y. enterocolitica (1995: 1.5%) and Y. pseudotuberculosis (1995: 1.0%). Mycotic and parasitic human pathogens were not found. The contamination of the soil from the Altrheinweg with Campylobacter spp. and L. monocytogenes was significantly greater than that of the other avenues and parks in Basel. However, the investigations conducted by the school medical service showed that no infections among the children attending the nursery school could be correlated to the presence of the starlings. Even if the heavy contamination of the area with droppings of starlings presents a potential health risk, a continuous or systematic transmission of infectious agents seems rather improbable due to the contamination-avoiding behaviour of the children, the characteristics of the microorganisms involved and the climatic conditions in autumn. This situation showed however not reduce our awareness of such a potential health risk.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Evaluation of 2 school mediator courses on alcohol and tobacco problems. Collective analysis versus group analysis].

Secondary school pupils were trained to serve as mediators on alcohol and tobacco problems in their classes. Evaluation was based on danger in behaviour regarding tobacco and alcohol in their classmates. Classes without any influence of mediators served as controls. Increased knowledge and motivation to abstain from alcohol and tobacco were measured. In this survey the individual dynamics of each class and the teacher's influence interfered with the mediators effect. If these facts are taken into account, such projects may become useful tools in health education.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1986

[Nutrition education in kindergarten: results of an intervention study].

The nutrition intervention in the case of the 3 target groups (children, kindergarten teachers and parents) with regard to knowledge, awareness of nutrition problems, efforts to make changes and the achieved improvement in eating habits met with partial success. Six months after the intervention, this partial success was already in some cases declining, a factor which with an extension of the programme to all kindergartens in the canton of Basel-Stadt will have to be taken into account.

Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1984

[Swiss continuing education meetings for school physicians. An evaluation of preferences for selected subjects].

The group "school health physicians" of the Swiss Society for Social- and Preventive Medicine has organized since its foundation in 1981 two meetings; Basle in 1982, and Zurich in 1983. Questionnaires were handed out on both occasions on source and extent of experience as school health doctors. The questions included views on the meetings in general and on the various topics discussed. Participants were also asked to write down suggestions for future meetings. The following subjects discussed were voted to be "important" or "very important" by at least two thirds of the participants: ophtalmologic mass examinations; health education as an important new factor for school health physicians as evidenced by the anti-smoke-campaign in Baselstadt schools; round-table-discussion on the currant importance of school-health medicine; certification of fitness for schooling by the school doctor; growth and development of the child on startin school; psychomotor disorders and their effects on children starting school. The third meeting, scheduled for September 27th 1984 in Lausanne, which will include for the first time a morning session, will deal with topics selected by the participants of the Basle and Zurich meetings: orthopedic problems at school age and their prevention; a report on school sports and high-performance sports.

Choice Behavior↗
PubMed1983

[The "school physicians" specialist group of the SGSPM (Swiss Society of Social and Preventive Medicine)].

Section of School Health of the Swiss Society for Social- and Preventive Medicine. Since 1981 our group is striving to get in contact with all doctors engaged in school health services. Our aims are: - Increase in the maintenance of contacts with all collegues in school health services (from G.P. to fully employed school physicians). - Exchange of experiences with and post-graduate training for these collegues. - Further development and improvement of primary, secondary and tertiary preventive measures for school children in the whole country. According to an investigation carried out by this group, nearly 1800 doctors are involved in school health. The article also gives some information about future tasks and plans and especially about national meetings on school health subjects, which usually take place parallel to the scientific meeting of the Swiss Society for Social- and Preventive Medicine. The present issue is an extended report of the first section meeting in Basle, June 1982.

Child↗
PubMed1982

[How many times has your child had an accident?].

Anamnestic data on frequency, type and place of accidents of children attending the nursery school, the 4th and 8th grade education. Evaluation of a questionnaire to the parents. According to an analysis of 21,560 parental questionnaires which includes information on accidents of their children, 31% of the children attending the nursery school (5 years), 48% of those of the 4th (10 years) and 61% of those of the 8th (14 and 15 years) grade education had suffered an accident once or several times, girls significantly less often than boys. The most frequent types of accidents were open injuries and fractures. Accidents among younger children happened mostly at home, those of the older more frequently at school and at sport. No relationship was found between the rate of accidents and eyesight.

Accidents↗
PubMed1980

[Factors influencing dental caries in school children in a city with fluoridated water].

In a joint study by the school health and the school dental health service 4386 children were examined and their nutritional habits recorded. Analysis shows that mainly the consumption of sweets between regular meals and insufficient dental hygiene are responsible for the presence of caries. While health education for dental hygiene is presently given at school nutrition education is still a neglected subject.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[4 years of electronic data processing of serial school health data. Current situation and prospects].

The school health service of the city of Basle is storing the routinly collected data not only in the personal records of each child but also on a data banc for several years now. The data concern developmental and health status of each child and the anamnestic informations given by his parents. The children are examined at the age of 5, 10 and 14 years. On the average nearly 6,000 children are screened each year. Annual evaluations of the data provide an overview of the present health situation of the youth and trends in morbidity, immunisation etc. E.g. gives a comparison of 10 years old Italian and Swiss children evidence that their average weight is significantly different while their size is nearly equal. Four years ago the ADP-system was reorganized in order to link each child's data of the three screening examinations at the three ages. Thus not only cross sectional but also longitudinal studies can be performed in future. It will enable to monitor growth and development of the children and to evaluate the outcome of the referals to therapeutic and preventive measures. At present the data of more than 22,000 children are stored, i.e. of 5,500 children of the Kindergarten, of 7,500 of the 4.th class (primary school) and 9,000 of the 8.th class (intermediate school). An attempt will be made to replace the present data input system (typing) by the application of a mark sense reader. This will avoid the present delay in data input and improve the accuracy of the data. A special effort has to be made in order to fulfill the new legislations concerning confidentiality.

Body Height↗
PubMed1979

[Consumption of sweets and freedom from caries in Basle school children].

A sample of 1'838 school children of Basle, aged 8 to 14 years, who were examined by dentists of the school dental health service, attended at the same time a 24 hour recall interview on nutritional habits. The data show that absence of caries (among 448 or 24,4% of all) is more frequent within those children who prefer fruits instead of sugar containing sweets with and especially between the meals. Since school children are not able to distinguish well between sugar- and non-sugar containing sweets and drinks, health education on such subjects is emphasised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Consumption of sweets by schoolchildren in Basel].

In September 1977 a 24 hour recall interview on nutritional habits, especially on the consumption of oligosacchrides was performed on 2'563 school children of Basel, aged 7 to 15 years after having attended a dental examination. 80,4% did consume sugar containing sweets between the 5 regular meals. The higher the degree of education among the three intermediate schooltypes, the less consumers were found (p less than 0,05). Factors which may influence the different consumption patterns are social status and knowledge on nutritional diseases (e.g. diabetes), but not pocket money. A link between data of the nutritional study and those of the dental examination will follow.

Adolescent↗