PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.17 No.33, August 22, 2024 Article TypeOriginal ArticlesQuickStatsSurveillance Reports

• Original Articles 2024-08-22

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  Establishment of Diagnostic Reference Levels for Dental Radiography in 2023

  Juhee Kang, Jonghun Won, Jongwon Gil, Youjeong Min, Min-Suk Heo

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(33): 1393-1405 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.33.1

  

  

  Abstract

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  Recent studies have focused on radiation exposure in patients undergoing medical imaging examinations utilizing ionizing radiation. Striving for optimal radiation doses according to the principles of justification and optimization is essential. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for various imaging devices have been in place since 2007, and DRLs for intraoral and panoramic radiography were established following a nationwide survey in 2009. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) DRLs were established for the first time in 2018. The status of diagnostic radiography equipment used in dentistry was assessed to select the study subjects. A survey form was developed to compare the DRL values for dental radiography with published in ROK in 2019. We investigated DRLs for specific radiographic procedures in adults and children. Dose values were collected using radiographic equipment at dental university hospitals and dental hospitals and clinics throughout the country. Exposure information and equipment details were analyzed along with the collected data. Based on the measured dose values, exposure conditions and the average, minimum, maximum, 25th percentile, and 75th percentile dose values were obtained. Additionally, the most frequent exposure conditions were analyzed. Based on this information, the proposed national DRLs for dental radiography for 2023 follow: adult intraoral radiography 48 mGy‧cm², panoramic radiography 354 mGy‧cm², CBCT 1,856 mGy‧cm², child intraoral radiography 31 mGy‧cm², panoramic radiography 224 mGy‧cm², CBCT 1,350 mGy‧cm². We hope that this study will contribute to the optimization of patient radiation doses for dental radiography.

• Surveillance Reports 2024-08-22

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  Surveillance of Tick Population in the Republic of Korea, 2023

  Byung-Eon Noh, Hyunwoo Kim, Jung-Won Ju, Hee-Il Lee*

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(33): 1406-1418 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.33.2

  

  

  Abstract

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  Ticks are important vectors of infectious diseases, transmitting viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens to humans. Among tick-borne diseases, severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), which was first discovered in China in 2009, has been designated as a class 3 legal infectious disease in the Republic of Korea (ROK), where it was first reported in 2013. The number of patients with SFTS has continued to increase since the first report. The tick population in the country was monitored to prevent tick-borne diseases. The Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency operates a climate change vector surveillance center. The survey was conducted in copses, grasslands, graves, and mountain roads (a total of four environments) in 32 regions from April to November of 2023. In this survey, 110,624 ticks were collected, and three genera and five species were identified. The dominant species among the classified ticks was Haemaphysalis longicornis (except for larvae). In terms of the environment, most of the ticks were collected from grasslands (53,348 ticks, 48.2%), followed by graves (24,904 ticks, 22.5%), copses (18,241 ticks, 16.5%), and mountain roads (14,131 ticks, 12.8%). The tick index (trap index; number of individuals/traps/days) in 2023 decreased by 9.8% and 32.8% compared with the percentage and average percentage in 2022 and for 2018–2022, respectively. Because tick-borne infectious diseases are steadily increasing in the ROK, annual surveillance of changes in tick populations due to climatic and geographical factors is essential for public health. The occurrence of ticks in 2023 decreased by 9.8% compared with that the previous year. However, there is a high risk that ticks and tick-borne diseases will increase owing to climate change; therefore, surveillance for ticks must be conducted continuously.

• QuickStats 2024-08-22

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  Trends in Hypertension and Diabetes Patients and Medical Expenses, 2012–2022

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(33): 1419-1420 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.33.3

  

  

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