[Occupational diseases: considerations on a clinical case series]

The authors examine cases of occupational diseases diagnosed between 1982 and 1988 in patients admitted to "Divisione di Medicina del Lavoro I Sezione di medicina del Lavoro del Dipartimento di Medicina preventiva, occupazionale e di comunità dell'Università di Pavia". The most frequent syndromes concerns the auditory apparatus (having losses or deafness due to noise) and the respiratory system, whereas new safety regulations have given rise to the disappearance of benzene-induced hematologic abnormalities. Most of, the "classical" features of occupational diseases have disappeared, since early diagnosis has permitted the adoption of opportune technical and sanitary measures. The authors emphasize the necessity for role of Occupational Medicine (ever following the sentences 179 and 206 of the "Corte Costituzionale") to be not prevention, but also diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation; therefore there is a need, all over the country, for adequate structures for the diagnosis and treatment of the occupational diseases.