Incidence of Various Disease States Among the
Marshallese (52 exposed adults and 55
unexposed adults examined)
Three miscarriages occurred in the exposed
women, two at 3 months and one at about 6
months. In all three cases this was the second miscarriage since exposure. However, two ofthe
women have had one normal! pregnancysince the
accident. One of the unexposed women had a
miscarriage, and another had full-term baby
that died within a month, apparently of diarrhea
of infancy. (Between the March survey and the
return survey in May 1958, one exposed woman
had a full-term baby that died shortly after birth
of unknown cause.)
One death, presumably due to coronarv thrombosis, occurred in July 1957, that of a 78-yr-old diabetic male. No autopsy was obtained. One unexposed 65-yr-old male died in January 1958, presumably of arteriosclerosis and senility. No autopsy
was obtained.
Physical Examinations
Examinations showed the general physical condition of the people to be satisfaetory. Grossly,
nutritional status was also satisfactory, in spite of
the dietary restrictions referred to above. However, 6 children (all in the unexposed group)
showed mild to moderate degrees of hemeralopia
when put through an obstacle course test at night.
All were treated with vitamin A and recovered
rapidly. This evidence ofmild vitamin A deficiency
is understandable after study of their diet. At that
time of the vear pandanuswas not ripe and other
sources of vitamin A were scarce.
Table | lists the major diseases noted in the exposed and unexposed people. The diseases found
were present with about the same frequency in the
unexposed and exposed groups. No malignant.
conditions were noted.
Physical examination ofthe children revealed
few major medical disorders in either the exposed
or unexposed groups. One exposed child had tnactive rheumatic heart disease with evidence of
polyvalvular involvement(reported previously).
He showed no further evidence of decompensation
such as had occurred 3 years previously and was
able to keep up with other children in their play.
Extensive molluscum contagiosum and superficial
CONGENITAL ANOMALIES
Short 5th finger
Prominentulnar styloid process
Congenital dislocated hip
Heberden’s nodes
Adrenogenital syndrome
Pilonidai sinus
Hernia, umbilical
Congenital nystagmus
Congenital facial asymmetry
OTHER ABNORMALITIES Founp
Cheilosis
Tinea versicolor
Kvphoscoliosis
Impetigo and ecthyma
Healed yaws
Bronchitis
Hypertension
Arteriosclerosis, peripheral
Osteoarthritis
Obesity
Chronic cervicitis
Cystocele and rectocele
Emphysema
Uterine fibroids
Goiter
Hemorrhoids
Hepacosplenomegaly
Abnormal knee-jerks
Keloid
Leprosy
Functional heart disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Ovarian cyst
Anal fistula
Dupuytren’s contracture
Senile vaginitis
Hallux valgus
Leontiasis oaseumm
Urethral caruncle
Exposed
Unexposed
1
3
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
2
2
l
1
1
0
0
l
t
Der NF RK Re kK OOK kK ORK NW ON NN Fe Hwee OWrAAHO
19 women of child-bearing age (15 to 44 years).
Table |
—-Oo TOO 0C OF 0 PreK Or CDOS FN ON NM UDO — e& ~1 ee
were also common complaints for which the
health aide was consulted.
During the past year healthy babies were born
to 4 irradiated women and 6 unexposed women.
The exposed and unexposed groups each contain
pustules on the legs were common. An occasional
child had paipable cervical nodes, but tonsilar
hypertrophy was uncommon. Xeroderma,cheilosis, and glossitis were not seen.
In the exposed adults, one case of auricular
fibrillation of several years standing in a 50-yr-old
male continued asymptomatic. The case ofleprosy
showed no progression of the lesions of the hands