Abstract
Neurological occupational diseases comprise a heterogeneous group of nosological entities that affect the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system and are acknowledged in the Czech Republic as an occupational disease or as a risk of occupational disease. From 1994 to 2009, a total of 7,569 neurological occupational diseases were reported in the Czech Republic, corresponding to 26.1% of all occupational diseases reported during this period.
These neurological occupational diseases were mostly caused by physical overload of the extremities, by hand-arm vibration, infectious diseases and chemical agents. Mining was the economic activity sector with the highest number of occupational diseases (24.9% of cases).
The carpal tunnel syndrome was the most frequent occupational disease (89.8% of cases). The neurological occupational diseases reported in the Czech Republic between 1994 and 2009 were further analyzed according to the sectors of economic activity, occupation, age, and duration of exposure.
Finally, the possible causes of the decreasing trend in the number of the reported occupational diseases are discussed.