Category: Workplace Medical Mystery
Workplace Medical Mystery Solved: Drum Maker Develops a Suspicious Rash
Ousmane, a drum maker living in Washington, DC, was concerned about the lesion that had developed on his forearm. His doctor thought it was likely an infected spider bite, but after taking antibiotics for 7 days, the sore had gotten worse, not better. Ousmane decided to go see an infectious disease specialist. Laboratory tests showed Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentWorkplace Medical Mystery: Drum Maker Develops a Suspicious Rash
He thought it was an insect bite. Ousmane immigrated to the United States from West Africa when he was just 20. Now living in Washington, DC, he has a thriving business making and repairing traditional West African drums as well as teaching workshops and playing around the city with his performance troupe or with friends Read More >
Posted on by 32 CommentsWorkplace Medical Mystery Solved: An Unknown Exposure Leaves a Child with High Amounts of Lead in her Blood
The local health department conducted a lead risk assessment of Michelle and Ted’s house that turned up some interesting findings. While their home was built before 1978—when lead-containing paint was banned by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission—no lead-based paint was found in the house. The homes that were demolished to make way for the Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentWorkplace Medical Mystery: Unknown Exposure Leaves Child with High Blood Lead Levels
It was just a routine well child exam. A simple blood test showed 13 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) of lead in two-year-old Sarah’s blood; 8 µg/dL more than the 5 µg/dL the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)recommends as a reference level for determining if a child’s blood lead level is much Read More >
Posted on by 25 CommentsWorkplace Medical Mystery Solved: Blurry vision affects a print press operator
It turns out Jim wasn’t the only one at work with vision problems (see mystery). To his surprise, Jim discovered almost all of his co-workers who worked the line with him at the label production plant had experienced some sort of vision problems over the last year—including changes in vision, blurred vision or irritation. Once Read More >
Posted on by 3 CommentsWorkplace Medical Mystery:Blurry vision affects a print press operator
At first it was only an annoyance. Jim thought it would go away. Then it became dangerous. Jim works at a big printing company that produces labels for consumer products. If you have a can of motor oil in your garage or a jar of hair mousse in your bathroom cabinet, chances are the Read More >
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