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OBJETIVO: Determinar la dosis de radiación ultravioleta que reciben los niños y adolescentes durante su asistencia a la escuela primaria, secundaria o preparatoria en la ciudad de San Luis Potosí. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohorte hecho en la ciudad de San Luis Potosí entre mayo de 2001 y abril de 2002. Se evaluaron 80 escolares escogidos al azar de 6 a 19 años de edad, de uno u otro sexo. La dosis se cuantificó durante todo un ciclo escolar mediante el registro del tiempo de exposición solar para cada uno de los alumnos, de modo simultáneo al monitoreo de radiación ultravioleta, para lo cual se utilizaron equipos de radiometría terrestre. Se excluyeron las vacaciones y los fines de semana. Los datos se analizaron en forma univariada y comparativamente, por sexo y meses de exposición; además, se buscó un modelo de regresión para explicar la dosis de exposición solar. RESULTADOS: La dosis promedio ajustada al espectro de eritematógeno acción fue de 16 456 J/m²/año.Hubo diferencias por género: 14 264 J/m²/año/mujeres vs. 18 648 J/m²/año/hombres (Kolmogorov-Smirnof, p=0.003). No hubo diferencias significativas entre grupos, pero sí entre los meses de exposición (Kruskall-Wallis, p=

Background: Telemedicine has been used for more than 50 years. Dermatology has been one of the specialties where it has reached great development (Teledermatology). When the observation is made simultaneously by the outreach specialist and by the non-specialist at the workplace, it is called synchronous teledermatology, and asynchronous when information is filmed, stored, and presented to the specialist at a later time., Objective: To evaluate efficacy and reliability of asynchronous teledermatology for adequate diagnosis of skin diseases., Methods: Fifty patients with dermatologic disorders were seen in a poor tropical rural zone, first by non-dermatologists in conventional consultation and then by dermatologists to obtain a diagnosis (gold standard); the latter step consisted of evaluation of filmed lesions by another group of dermatologist later on., Results: There was a high concordance of diagnosis between the two groups of dermatologists when kappa analysis was performed., Conclusion: It appears important to use these technological advances in developing-countries to improve delivery of health care.

Objective: To determine the ultraviolet radiation dose received by children and adolescents at elementary, middle, or high school., Material and Methods: A cohort study was conducted in the City of San Luis Potosí between May 2001 and April 2002. The study population consisted of 80 school male and female children, selected at random, aged 6 to 19 years of age. The dose was quantitated during an entire schoolyear by recording the time each student was exposed to sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation was simultaneously monitored with terrestrial radiometry equipment. Holidays and weekends were excluded. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and comparative analysis by sex and months of exposure. A regression model was fit to explain the dose of solar exposure., Results: The erythemally weighted UV dose for Mexican schoolchildren averaged 16,456 J/m2/year. Differences by gender were found: 14,264 J/m2/year in females vs. 18,648 J/m2/year in males (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, p = 0.003). No significant differences were found among groups. Significant differences were found among months of exposure (Kruskal-Wallis, p = < 0.0001). Stepwise regression models were fit to find the best model, using generalized linear modeling and the Akaike information criterion, to explain the radiation dose according to month of exposure; the final equation was 587.20 + 438.45(gender)0.16(month)-49.65(month2). The results showed higher radiation doses between March and September., Conclusions: A theoretical framework is advanced to formulate policies aimed at protecting children in Mexican schools from solar overexposure. Implementing prevention measures at least during the months of greatest exposure (March to June) is in order since 51% of the annual ultraviolet radiation dose is received in this period. By avoiding exposure 8 minutes daily, the radiation dose could be decreased in 39,495 J/m2, which is the dose accumulated in two years. The English version of this paper is available at:http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.