Synopsis for May 3, 2006

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EST.

1. Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis – Attributable Activity Limitation – United States, 2003

2. Mental Health in the United States: Parental Report of Diagnosed Autism in Children Aged 4-17 Years – United States, 2003-2004

3. Workers Illness Related to Ground Application of Pesticide – Kern County California, 2005

4. Respiratory Illness Associated with Boot Sealant Products – Five States, 2005-2006

Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis – Attributable Activity Limitation – United States, 2003

Arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation are common problems in all states and territories and likely to increase in the future.

Arthritis is costly ($86 billion annually), highly prevalent (43 million American adults), the leading cause of disability, and associated with significant disparities in pain, activity and work limitation and reduced quality of life.  In adults in states and territories, the 2003 prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis ranged from 17.9 percent to 37.2 percent (state median 27.0 percent) and that of arthritis-attributable activity limitation ranged from 6.3 percent to 16.7 percent (state median 9.9 percent), with particularly high rates in southern states.  In all states these high rates of arthritis prevalence and impact on activity are projected to increase with the aging of the population, demanding greater intervention efforts to reduce the impact.  

Mental Health in the United States: Parental Report of Diagnosed Autism in Children Aged 4-17 Years – United States, 2003-2004

Parent-reported prevalence estimates from 2 surveys in which parents were asked whether their child had been diagnosed with autism were 5.7 per 1,000 school-aged children (National Health Interview Survey) and  5.5 per 1,000 school-aged children  (National Survey of Children’s Health).  Together, these two national surveys of parents suggest that over 300,000 school-aged children had autism in 2003-04. Parent-reported prevalence estimates from 2 surveys in which parents were asked whether their child had been diagnosed with autism were 5.7 per 1,000 school-aged children (National Health Interview Survey {NHIS}) and 5.5 per 1,000 school-aged children (National Survey of Children’s Health {NSCH}). In these independent national surveys, both conducted during 2003-2004, parents of randomly selected children were asked if a doctor or health care provider had ever told them their child had autism.  Children reported to have autism from these surveys were also reported as experiencing a high level of social and behavioral difficulties and receiving special education or other services for emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems.  Population-based surveys like NHIS and NSCH might be useful in the future to assess the impact of an autism diagnosis on the child and family. This is one of several methods CDC is using to determine how common autism is in the US.  This method complements CDC’s tracking of autism in metropolitan Atlanta and in other sites across the US using information obtained from education and health records.  Autism is a lifelong neuro-developmental disorder characterized by early onset of problems with social interaction and communication, and unusual, stereotyped behaviors. 

Workers Illness Related to Ground Application of Pesticide – Kern County California, 2005

Pyrethroid pesticides cause adverse health effects and if used should be applied in a manner that insures that workers are not exposed. 

The incident described in this report highlights two potential occupational hazards in agriculture: pyrethroid toxicity and pesticide drift.  Findings indicated that workers became ill from drift of pyrethroid pesticide (cyfluthrin) that was being applied in a neighboring field.  Cyfluthrin has increased in use 1,100 percent in California from 1990 (4,099 lbs applied) to 2003 (47,610 lbs applied).  Pyrethroid pesticides cause adverse health effects and if used should be applied in a manner that insures that workers are not exposed.

Respiratory Illness Associated with Boot Sealant Products – Five States, 2005-2006

Consumers should use all waterproofing products outdoors, and leave sprayed items outdoors until fumes have dissipated and items are completely dry. 

Six regional poison centers report 172 exposures to aerosol boot sealant products, which often resulted in severe respiratory illness. The two products primarily implicated, Jobsite Heavy Duty Bootmate and Rocky Boot Weather and Stain Protector, were recalled voluntarily by the distributor from store shelves.  This report summarizes the illness that was reported and found in those reports.

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