A Study about the Skin and General Disease Pattern of the Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Dioxin.
- Author:
Hyun Jin MO
1
;
Hyun Jeong PARK
;
Ji Hong KIM
;
Jun Young LEE
;
Baik Kee CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. hjpark@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Dioxin;
Vietnam veterans;
Skin diseases
- MeSH:
Chemistry;
Dermatitis, Photoallergic;
Dermatitis, Seborrheic;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Eczema;
Electrocardiography;
Fungi;
Humans;
Hyperlipidemias;
Hypertension;
Korea;
Liver Diseases;
Military Personnel;
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases;
Physical Examination;
Prevalence;
Psoriasis;
Skin Diseases;
Skin*;
Urticaria;
Veterans*;
Vietnam*
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2002;40(6):634-638
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Vietnam veterans have suffered from a number of skin and general diseases. But in Korea, there are few reports about the relationship between dioxin and skin disease and dermatologists need more information about it. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the skin and general disease pattern of Koreans who have a history of exposure to dioxin in Vietnam. METHODS: 332 Vietnam veterans who visited St. Mary's hospital between July, 2001 and September, 2001. We perfomed a clinical evaluation, physical examination, medical history, serum and urine chemistry, electrocardiogram, electrodiagnostic study, and a roentgenographic study. For dermatologic evaluation, pathologic examination, KOH mount, fungus culture, and phototest were performed. RESULTS: 1. Among the 332 participating soldiers in the Vietnam war, the mean age of patient was 56.9 years old (the youngest-53 years, the oldest-61 years old). 2. The prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, and peripheral neuropathy of subjects was 12.0%, 6.9%, 5.7%, 4.5%, and 1.2%. 3. The prevalence of xerotic eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis vulgaris, photoallergic dermatitis, and chronic urticaria of subjects was 3.9%, 3.9%, 0.9%, 0.6%, and 0.3%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of general diseases was not significant between Vietnam veterans and controls.
