Neurological disorders

Within patients with neurological disorders, the possibility of toxic work exposure should not be overlooked. An accurate patient occupational history is essential.   The nervous system is sensitive to the effects of reagants and ergonomics in the workplace:  peripheral neuropathy, headache, memory disturbance and even behavioural changes are uncommon effects of specific occupational agents.Diagnoses can be overlooked because the employee is not questioned about their job and its likely related hazards. The occupational history should include the employees current and past occupations,hobbies and duration thereof. For example, neurological features suggestive of Parkinson's disease may have been associated with previous Mn, CS2, or CO, manganese exposure.A significant medical error occurs if an occupational exposure is overlooked and a reversible condition is diagnosed as an irreversible disease and the patient remains exposed at work. On the basis of information about hazards in the workplace, controls and monitoring  can  reduce the risk of illness and injury.

Headache :-                                                     Solvent exposure, Metal fume, Zinc Tin, DSE ergonomics  Disturbance of memory or behaviour :-          Lead (confusion, ataxia, convulsions, weakness, and paresthesias of the extremities ) Manganese (flight of ideas, compulsive thoughts , agitation, and verbosity, euphoria, hallucinations,) Inorganic mercury ( erethism or 'mad hatters disease' : anxiety, and depression:  irritability, poor concentration, delirium) Intoxication (dizziness, euphoria, nausea) :-    Acute high dose solvent exposure ( eg n-hexane MEK, MBK)  Psycho-organic syndrome   :-                           Chronic solvent exposure (drop in intellect and psychomotor coordination) fatigue, irritability, labile mood, depression, & short-term memory disturbances Parkinsonism :- Mn, CS2, or CO exposure Distal peripheral neuropathy :-                        Arsenic, lead, thallium, n-hexane, MBK, methyl bromide, acrylamide monomer, organophosphat Distal peripheral pain :-                                   WRULD, nerve entrapments, carpel tunnel syndrome