Diagnosis of rotavirus infections and their reporting in the Czech Republic in 2001

In 2001 in 44 laboratories in the CR by laboratory methods 2,250 rotavirus infections were confirmed. From the total number of diagnostic departments 37, i.e. 84.1% use latex agglutination. Among the examined subjects children under 3 years predominated a positive finding being confirmed in 23.0%. The specific morbidity in this age group was 651.3 cases/100,000/year. The hygiene service received in the course of the year 851 notifications of sporadic cases and 72 infections which developed in three epidemics. As to infections confirmed by laboratory examinations only 39.3% were notified. Probably also one imported case of the disease was recorded, no death was reported.     

新生儿轮状病毒医院感染的诊断与预防

目的探讨新生儿轮状病毒医院感染的诊断与预防。方法回顾性调查某院2004年新生儿轮状病毒医院感染病例资料；轮状病毒检测，采用法国VEDALAB公司的金标法ROTA-CHECK-1试剂盒检测患儿粪便。结果共诊断新生儿轮状病毒医院感染病例22例，患儿分散在新生儿病区和母婴同室区不同房间；其临床情况为：于出生当日～12d发病；大便次数每日44次8例，5～9次14例；大便性状改变19例，伴有轻度脱水2例；大便细菌培养均为阴性。结论新生儿轮状病毒感染有其特殊性，隐性感染及出生后48h内发病的宫内感染不应诊断为医院感染；为预防显性感染，在流行季节应采取相应预防控制措施。     

Characterization of a natural focus of Puumala hantavirus infection in the Czech Republic

Hantaviruses are RNA viruses of the Bunyaviridae family, represented in the Czech Republic by three genospecies: Dobrava-Belgrade, Puumala and Tula. They persist in natural foci of infection. In 2004 to 2009, a local outbreak with 18 reported cases of nephropathia epidemica caused by Puumala hantavirus occurred in the Sumava mountains and foothills and was spacially associated with another outbreak in Lower Bavaria, Germany. In the Jeleni locality in the Sumava mountains at 880 m above sea level, we identified a natural focus of infection suspected to be the source of hantavirus infection in forest workers. The focus was characterized geobotanically as a montane mixed forest with the predominance of beeches within the association Dentario enneaphylli-Fagetum, alliance Fagion, sub-alliance Eu-Fagenion, in a cold climate region with a podzolic soil. The biocenoses where hantaviruses are circulating typically show higher microclimate humidity. Their characteristization can be helpful in predicting where hantaviruses are likely to circulate.     

Health-care reforms in the Czech Republic

Health-care reform is everywhere. Although different countries are moving at different speeds, using somewhat different means and different routes, they are all trying to arrive at the same place. The place is called "better value for money in health care". Presents details of the health-care reforms taking place in the Czech Republic, identifying and discussing the main strands of Czech reforms: the dissolution of the regional health authorities; the reorientation of district health authorities; the move to a pluralistic semi-competitive insurance-based system; hospitals receiving funding by winning contracts with purchasers; contracts becoming more sophisticated and being based on cost, volume and quality factors; changes in the incentives and rewards for GPs; the drive towards a primary-care-led health-care system; and privatization.     

Tobacco control in the Czech Republic

Main points of tobacco control measures in the country are mentioned: smoking prevalence among population and health professionals (both about one third), smoking cessation availability (about 70 smoking cessation clinics), education of health professionals, both pre- and post-gradual, public-oriented actions, advertising, tobacco prices, legislation, cigarette consumption, mortality.     

Smoking-attributable mortality in the Czech Republic

Objectives The main objective of this work is to quantify the contribution of smoking to mortality in the Czech Republic (CR) in 2002. Methods The estimate of the proportion by which smoking contributed to mortality in the CR was computed using the method of smoking-attributable fractions (SAF). The SAF was computed from relative risks established in the American Cancer Prevention Study II and from estimates of the prevalence of smoking from a nationwide study conducted in 2002. Results In 2002, there were 20,550 (95% confidence interval: 18,851–22,262) deaths in the CR that could be attributed to smoking (14,525 men and 6,025 women). Deaths caused by smoking represent 19% of the total nationwide mortality for 2002. Earlier estimates were published by Peto and Lopez for 1995 (22,300 deaths caused by smoking) and 2000 (17,746 deaths). The estimate arrived at using the SAF method for 2002 coincides with that reported by Peto and Lopez for 2000. Conclusions The high mortality rate related to smoking is the result of the high prevalence of smoking and an insignificant change of smoking habits in the adult population in recent years. An efficient tobacco control policy could contribute to the reduction of smoking and save lives and costs expended to treat diseases caused by smoking.     

Costs of dementia in the Czech Republic

Objective

The aim of this study was to estimate the cost of dementia in the Czech Republic.

Methods

One hundred and nineteen patient-caregiver dyads participated in our multicenter observational cost-of-illness study. The modified Resource Utilization in Dementia Questionnaire was used as the main tool to collect data from patients and caregivers. Medical specialists provided additional data from medical records. The average costs of dementia were calculated and patients were then divided by the level of cognitive impairment. A generalized linear model was used to determine if differences were present for selected cost variables.

Results

The mean (standard deviation) for direct cost per a patient in a month was estimated to be €243.0 (138.0), €1727.1 (1075.6) for the indirect cost, and €1970.0 (1090.3) for the total cost of dementia in the Czech Republic. All of the costs increased as dementia severity increased. Both the indirect and total costs significantly (p < 0.05) increased if patients were living with their primary caregiver, and if the severity of cognitive impairment was increased.

Conclusions

The indirect cost, which was represented mainly by informal care, comprised the main part of the total cost of care for patients with dementia in the Czech Republic. Both total and indirect care costs increased significantly the cognition declined.

     

Pornography and sex crimes in the Czech Republic

Pornography continues to be a contentious matter with those on the one side arguing it detrimental to society while others argue it is pleasurable to many and a feature of free speech. The advent of the Internet with the ready availability of sexually explicit materials thereon particularly has seemed to raise questions of its influence. Following the effects of a new law in the Czech Republic that allowed pornography to a society previously having forbidden it allowed us to monitor the change in sex related crime that followed the change. As found in all other countries in which the phenomenon has been studied, rape and other sex crimes did not increase. Of particular note is that this country, like Denmark and Japan, had a prolonged interval during which possession of child pornography was not illegal and, like those other countries, showed a significant decrease in the incidence of child sex abuse.     

Breastfeeding promotion and protection in the Czech Republic

The purpose of the article is to present the National Breastfeeding Promotion Programme in the Czech Republic in the course of the last decade. It summarizes the main strategies, education and training activities of the National Breastfeeding Committee, its collaboration with the Government, Parliament, IBFAN and UNICEF. The article reviews the relevant studies on infant feeding which illustrate the increase of the prevalence of breastfeeding in the course of the 1990's and reflect the effect of the programme. Recent negotiations with the Ministry of Health have outlined the implementation of the WHO global strategy for infant and young child feeding in the Czech Republic.     

Occupational respiratory diseases in the Czech Republic

This paper presents the profile of occupational respiratory diseases in the Czech Republic. In a retrospective study the author analyzes structure, causes, occurrence, and trends of occupational diseases. Between 1996 and 2000, a total of 2,127 new cases were recorded, of which 62.0% were pneumoconioses caused by dust containing free silica, 21.0% were occupational asthma or allergic rhinitis and the rest were divided between lung cancer (10.0%), asbestos-related disorders (4.4%) and variety of other respiratory diseases (2.7%). During the period of the investigations, the decreasing trend of occupational respiratory diseases, which began in 1992, has continued.     

Human biomonitoring system in the Czech Republic

The human biomonitoring (HBM) is an integral part of Environmental Health Monitoring System in the Czech Republic since 1994. Selected biomarkers of the internal dose (heavy metals, PCBs) and cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes as a biomarker of the exposure/effect to/of environmental genotoxic factors are systematically followed up in the blood and urine of adults (blood donors), in children aged 8 to 10 years, and in the breast milk of nursing mothers. Selected outputs documented the declining trend of blood lead levels, with the recent reference value of 80 mg/l for men, and the rising trend of blood selenium levels in adults, but not in children. PCBs and chlorinated pesticides in human milk show a long-term downward trend, but still higher than in neighbouring countries. The frequency of aberrant cells revealed a downward trend, but the increase obtained in the last monitored period needs to be explained. Further HBM activities are required to demonstrate the corresponding trends and to reduce human exposure and health risks.     

Social costs of obesity in the Czech Republic

The European Journal of Health Economics - Increasing prevalence of obesity (BMI &gt; 30) is a pressing public health issue in the Czech Republic as well as world-wide, affecting up to 2.1...     

Health status in the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic

Health status in the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR)since 1950 is reviewed and compared with health status in Austria,West Germany (as was) and Sweden. CSFR performance in childhealth and communicable disease control has been good overall,although infant and child mortality declines have fallen behindthose in Western European countries in recent years. Life expectancyat birth has stagnated and is now substantially lower than inWestern Europe, while life expectancy at 15 years for maleshas declined. Substantial excess adult mortality exists in theCSFR compared to Western European countries. This disparityis particulary marked in males, and is largely due to high ratesof cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. Public expenditurein the health sector is likely to decline in real terms overthe next few years. In this climate, it is essential that anadequate level of investment in public health is maintainedand that resources are allocated to only the most cost-effectiveprogrammes.     

Biomonitoring of lead exposure in the Czech Republic

The systematic and long-term efforts to protect the environment may be successful also in the country in the period of transition from centrally planned to free market economies. The basic requirement is to disseminate reliable information on the exposure levels and expected health effects. The need for high quality information underscores the importance of the quality assurance and quality control systems in the context of good laboratory as well as epidemiologic practices. Each monitoring study should be planned in the way facilitating its use for the evaluation of long-term trends. Besides scientific issues, the communication of risks is of crucial importance. According to our experience, only an involvement of formal as well as informal local authorities and co-operation between all relevant stakeholders can ensure the success.