Fluorosis - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Definition
Fluorosis are describes as a state of toxicity of the trace element. It is occurring due to fluorine (commonly referred to in its ionic state as Fluoride) within an organism. Fluorosis is not limited to humans, and can affect any aspect of the ecosystem.

It could well be the result of fluorosis. It is mostly affect people in rural India with no access to safe drinking water. It's time to include it in the long list of urban lifestyle diseases.
Fluoride can affect bones and skeleton, due to this severe pain in major joints. 66 million people in India, including 6 million children, either affected or at high risk of fluorosis. This includes 6 million children in the 6-14 age groups.

Fluorosis is a crippling and painful disease due to caused by intake of fluoride. Fluoride can enter the body through drinking water, food, toothpaste, mouth rinses and other dental products; drugs, and fluoride dust and fumes from industries using fluoride containing salt and or hydrofluoric acid.
Dental fluorosis occurs in children who are exposed to a high intake of fluoride before the teeth fully mineralize. It is mainly accour in children before 12-14 years of age. The disease is more prevalent in rural areas where drinking water is use from wells or hand pumps. The disease is more likely to occur in areas where the drinking water has a fluoride content of more than 1ppm (part per million), and in children who have a poor intake of calcium.

Symptoms

Fluorosis may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of symptoms and whether they are indeed symptoms of fluorosis. The list of symptoms mentioned in various sources for Fluorosis includes :-
Chalky white teeth patches
Yellow stained teeth
Brown stained teeth
Discolored teeth
Weak teeth

Treatment

Many people with spinal stenosis can be effectively treated with conservative measures. But if you have disabling pain or your ability to walk is severely impaired, your doctor may recommend spinal surgery.
Vitamins C and D, and, salts of Calcium, Magnesium or Aluminum were prescribed in an attempt to reverse these effects. The choice of the reported therapy was logical. The presence of calcium in gut directly affects the absorption of fluoride ions and will also improve serum calcium levels. Vitamin D in low doses enhances calcium absorption and retention without causing hypercalcemia and thus directly affects the absorption of fluoride ions. It also inhibits the excessive release of parathyroid hormone thereby preventing excessive activation of osteoblasts thus preventing hyperosteoidosis and osteopenia.
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Ethiopia: Over 14 Million At Risk of Fluorosis - Ministry

More than 14 million Ethiopians may be potentially at risk of fluorosis, the Ministry of Water Resources announced at a workshop on Fluorosis Mitigation Learning Exchange held from from 4- 5 March 2008 in Addis Ababa. A recent assessment of Fluoride, Fluorosis and Defluoridation issues reported that, out of those at risk, approximately 85% may have already been exposed to high fluoride contamination. Excessive fluoride is the most serious water sanitation problem, mainly in the Ethiopian Rift Valley system affecting areas in Afar , Oromia, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and peoples regional states, including some parts of Gambela Regional State. A high level National Fluorosis Mitigation Steering Committee composed of Ministers and Heads of relevant agencies has been re-established to coordinate fluorosis mitigation efforts in Ethiopia.

Source: Binyam Tamene, The Daily Monitor, allAfrica.com, 6 Mar 2008

http://washafrica.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/ethiopia-over-14-million-at-risk-of-fluorosis-ministry/