HEALTH SUPERVISION, REGARDING ESP. APPENDICITIS AND OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISORDERS, OF OCCUPANTS OF A WOMEN'S DORMITORY ATTACHED TO A FISHING NET MANUFACTURING FACTORY

• Published in: Sangyo Igaku Vol. 7; no. 9; pp. 493 - 496
• Main Author: ISHIDA, Kichiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society for Occupational Health 1965
• ISSN: 0047-1879; 1881-1302
• DOI: 10.1539/joh1959.7.493

Diseases which occurred during three years since 1962 at the women's dormitory of Hakodate Fishing Net Manufacturing Company were inspected taking into consideration occupants' daily way of life. A high incidence of appendicitis and other gastro-intestinal disorders was noticed, and an investigation into factors leading to such a high incidence revealed the following facts. (1) Eighty per cent of the occupants were those who came from farming or fishing villages, adhering to their native habits of taking foods. (2) Those aged 15 to 18 years were yet in the unstable stage of physical and mental development, including those before menarche. (3) Forty five girls underwent surgical operations for appendicitis and other gastro-intestinal disorders after they had been admitted into the dormitory, while ten girls were appendectomized prior to the admission. This may suggest that the psychic and somatic disturbances associated with a sudden change of the environment might have caused such diseases. The prevention of such diseases, therefore, depends upon the improvements in dormitory feeding and in their eating habits between meals. To prevent the diseases becoming chronic, X ray and gastro-camera investigations are recommended. As for appendicitis, clinical-pathological examinations and early consultation with surgeons are necessary. This insures early operations, avoiding post-operative complaints or complications. In order to realize the above recommendations, continuous co-operation between supervising staff of the dormitory and the occupants is necessary.