Unusual climatic conditions and infectious diseases: observations made by Hippocrates

doi:10.1016/j.eimc.2009.11.013

Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica

Volume 28, Issue 10, December 2010, Pages 716-718

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eimc.2009.11.013 Get rights and content

Abstract

About 2500 years ago, Hippocrates made noteworthy observations about the influence of climate on public health. He believed that people living in cities with different climate may suffer from different diseases. Hippocrates also observed that abrupt climatic changes or unusual weather conditions affect public health, especially the incidence and severity of various infectious diseases, including gastrointestinal infections, tuberculosis, and central nervous system infections. We believe that Hippocrates’ scientific observations are great early historic examples that stress to modern infectious diseases researchers and clinicians the need to study intensively the effect of the occurring global climate changes to infectious diseases in order to help in the prevention of possible epidemics of infections.

Resumen

Hace unos 2.500 años, Hipócrates realizó notables observaciones sobre la influencia del clima sobre la salud pública. Creía que las personas que vivían en ciudades con diferencias climáticas podían padecer distintas enfermedades. Hipócrates observó también que los cambios climáticos bruscos o las condiciones climáticas poco habituales afectan a la salud pública, especialmente en la incidencia y la gravedad de varias enfermedades infecciosas, como las infecciones gastrointestinales, la tuberculosis y las infecciones del sistema nervioso central. Creemos que las observaciones científicas de Hipócrates constituyen importantes ejemplos históricos que indican a los modernos clínicos e investigadores de las enfermedades infecciosas la necesidad de estudiar exhaustivamente el efecto de los cambios climáticos mundiales actuales sobre las enfermedades infecciosas, a fin de ayudar en la prevención de posibles epidemias de enfermedades de este tipo.

References (20)

A.P. Lindsay et al.
Meningococcal disease and meteorological conditions in Auckland, New Zealand
Aust N Z J Public Health
(2002)
Hippocrates. Airs, Waters, Places. In: Goold GP, editor, Jones WHS, trans. Hippocrates I. The Loeb classical library no...
Hippocrates. Airs, Waters, Places. In: Goold GP, editor, Jones WHS, trans. Hippocrates I. The Loeb classical library no...
J.V. Pinfold et al.
Seasonal effects on the reported incidence of acute diarrhoeal disease in northeast Thailand
Int J Epidemiol
(1991)
M.G. Rowland
The Gambia and Bangladesh: the seasons and diarrhoea
Dialogue Diarrhoea
(1986)
Z.S. Wang et al.
Reduction of enteric infectious disease in rural China by providing deep-well tap water
Bull World Health Organ
(1989)
Hippocrates. Epidemics I. In: Goold GP, editor, Jones WHS, trans. Hippocrates I. The Loeb classical library no 147. 7th...
P. Kaaijk et al.
Increased mumps incidence in the netherlands: review on the possible role of vaccine strain and genotype
Euro Surveill
(2008)
A.P. Shah et al.
Seasonality of primarily childhood and young adult infectious diseases in the United States
Chronobiol Int
(2006)
Hippocrates. Epidemics I. In: Goold GP, editor, Jones WHS, trans. Hippocrates I. The Loeb classical library no 147. 7th...

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (11)

Nanoparticles and nanofiltration for wastewater treatment: From polluted to fresh water
2023, Environmental Research
Water pollution poses significant threats to both ecosystems and human health. Mitigating this issue requires effective treatment of domestic wastewater to convert waste into bio-fertilizers and gas. Neglecting liquid waste treatment carries severe consequences for health and the environment. This review focuses on intelligent technologies for water and wastewater treatment, targeting waterborne diseases. It covers pollution prevention and purification methods, including hydrotherapy, membrane filtration, mechanical filters, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and copper-zinc cleaning. The article also highlights domestic purification, field techniques, heavy metal removal, and emerging technologies like nanochips, graphene, nanofiltration, atmospheric water generation, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs)-based cleaning. Emphasizing water cleaning's significance for ecosystem protection and human health, the review discusses pollution challenges and explores the integration of wastewater treatment, coagulant processes, and nanoparticle utilization in management. It advocates collaborative efforts and innovative research for freshwater preservation and pollution mitigation. Innovative biological systems, combined with filtration, disinfection, and membranes, can elevate recovery rates by up to 90%, surpassing individual primary (<10%) or biological methods (≤50%). Advanced treatment methods can achieve up to 95% water recovery, exceeding UN goals for clean water and sanitation (Goal 6). This progress aligns with climate action objectives and safeguards vital water-rich habitats (Goal 13). The future holds promise with advanced purification techniques enhancing water quality and availability, underscoring the need for responsible water conservation and management for a sustainable future.
Professions and Working Conditions Associated With Community-Acquired Pneumonia
2015, Archivos de Bronconeumologia
Citation Excerpt :
Fewer data are available on the relation between CAP and sudden changes of temperature. Hippocrates, in his scientific observations 2500 years ago, described how sudden changes in temperature could affect public health.16 Lower environmental temperatures have been proven to increase the incidence and severity of respiratory infections.17,18
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not considered a professional disease, and the effect of different occupations and working conditions on susceptibility to CAP is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine whether different jobs and certain working conditions are risk factors for CAP.
Over a 1-year period, all radiologically confirmed cases of CAP (n = 1336) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 1326) were enrolled in a population-based case–control study. A questionnaire on CAP risk factors, including work-related questions, was administered to all participants during an in-person interview.
The bivariate analysis showed that office work is a protective factor against CAP, while building work, contact with dust and sudden changes of temperature in the workplace were risk factors for CAP. The occupational factor disappeared when the multivariate analysis was adjusted for working conditions. Contact with dust (previous month) and sudden changes of temperature (previous 3 months) were risk factors for CAP, irrespective of the number of years spent working in these conditions, suggesting reversibility.
Some recent working conditions such as exposure to dust and sudden changes of temperature in the workplace are risk factors for CAP. Both factors are reversible and preventable.
La neumonía adquirida en la comunidad (NAC) no se considera una enfermedad profesional, por lo que se desconoce la influencia que puedan tener las distintas profesiones y condiciones laborales sobre el riesgo de desarrollar una NAC. El objetivo del estudio es conocer si las profesiones y determinadas condiciones laborales se pueden comportar como factores de riesgo de NAC.
Estudio de casos (n = 1.336) y controles (n = 1.326) de base poblacional. Se estudiaron todos los casos de NAC con confirmación radiológica, diagnosticados en una base poblacional, durante un año. Los factores de riesgo de NAC, incluyendo las profesiones y las condiciones laborales actuales, fueron estudiados mediante entrevista individual.
El análisis bivariado mostró que trabajar como administrativo es un factor protector de NAC, mientras que trabajar en la construcción, estar expuesto al polvo y sufrir cambios bruscos de temperatura en el trabajo son factores de riesgo de NAC. El efecto de las profesiones desaparece cuando se ajusta por las condiciones laborales en el análisis multivariado. El contacto con polvo (último mes) y cambios bruscos de temperatura recientes (últimos 3 meses) son factores de riesgo de NAC sin que ello guarde relación con el número de años trabajados en estas condiciones, lo que sugiere un carácter reversible.
Algunas condiciones laborales recientes, como el contacto con polvo y cambios bruscos de temperatura, son factores de riesgo de NAC reversibles y potencialmente prevenibles.
An analysis of climate change and health hazards: results from an international study
2022, International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
Native microbiomes in danger: Could One Health help to cope with this threat to global health
2022, International Journal of One Health
Correlation Analysis of Rubella Incidence and Meteorological Variables Based on Chinese Medicine Theory of Yunqi
2019, Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine
Time series analysis of mumps and meteorological factors in Beijing, China
2019, BMC Infectious Diseases

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Review articleUnusual climatic conditions and infectious diseases: observations made by HippocratesCondiciones climáticas poco habituales y enfermedades infecciosas: observaciones realizadas por Hipócrates

Abstract

Resumen

Aust N Z J Public Health

Seasonal effects on the reported incidence of acute diarrhoeal disease in northeast Thailand

Int J Epidemiol

The Gambia and Bangladesh: the seasons and diarrhoea

Dialogue Diarrhoea

Reduction of enteric infectious disease in rural China by providing deep-well tap water

Bull World Health Organ

Increased mumps incidence in the netherlands: review on the possible role of vaccine strain and genotype

Euro Surveill

Seasonality of primarily childhood and young adult infectious diseases in the United States

Chronobiol Int

Review article
Unusual climatic conditions and infectious diseases: observations made by HippocratesCondiciones climáticas poco habituales y enfermedades infecciosas: observaciones realizadas por Hipócrates