Division of Work Environment, Department of Community Health, St John's Medical College, Bangalore-560034
*Correspondence Addresse: Dr Pretesh RK Assistant Professor, Division of Work Environment, Department of Community Health, St John's Medical College, Bangalore-560034. preteshkiran@gmail.com, Tel: +91- 9845272765
Online published on 1 October, 2011.
Following a diagnosis of fluorosis in a 25 year female patient from Hiresave village in Karnataka, a community survey was undertaken in the village of her residence to investigate the existence of Fluorosis among other residents
Objectives
1. To follow up an index case of fluorosis detected to the community of her residence
2. To detect any hidden cases of fluorosis in the population identified
3. To analyse the sources of water used for consumption for fluoride levels
Methodology
Study Design: Cross sectional study
Study Area: Hiresave village, Channarayapatna Taluk, Hassan District, Karnataka.
Study Population: All residents of the village
Study Methods: House to house visits with personal interviews
Study Period: December 2005.
Results
Clinical and dental examination of the residents of the community done revealed that none of them had any suspected signs of fluorosis. There were three water sources found in the village, all three being borewells which had been dug three years back. The fluoride level in samples from one of the water sources was found to be 1.21 mg/l, which is higher than permissible limits.
Conclusions
The area surveyed was not endemic for fluorosis. The case of fluorosis was an isolated one with no clear cut source of the fluoride responsible for her condition. Use of water from the source with fluoride levels greater than permissible limits consumption was recommended to be discontinued. Rehabilitative measures for the index case were suggested.
Fluoride, Fluorosis, Screening, Permissible Limits, India
