Immunological reactions in poultry food processing workers

Ispitivan je odnos respiratornih simptoma i imunoloških nalaza u 57 radnica zaposlenih na preradi hrane za perad i u 51 neizložene radnice. Prevalencija svih kroničnih respiratornih simptoma bila je značajno viša u izloženih nego u kontrolnih radnica (P<0,01) osim za profesionalnu astmu. Najviša prevalencija kroničnih respiratornih simptoma utvrđena je za kronični kašalj (49%), zatim za dispneju (43,9%), rinitis (38,6%), kronični iskašljaj (31,6%) i kronični bronhitis (26,3%). Profesionalna astma utvrđena je u 5,3% izloženih radnica. U izloženih radnica s pozitivnim kožnim prick testom na hranu za perad utvrđena je znatno viša prevalencija svih kroničnih respiratornih simptoma nego u onih s negativnim kožnim testovima, premda su razlike bile statistički značajne samo za rinitis (P<0,05). Najčešće pozitivne kožne reakcije zabilježene su na ekstrakt hrane za perad (izložene: 66,7%; kontrolne: 25,5%; P<0,05). Povišena koncentracija imunoglobulina IgE utvrđena je u 19 (33,3%) izloženih i u četiri (7,9%) kontrolne radnice (P<0,01). U tri izložene radnice sa simptomima profesionalne astme utvrđene su povišene vrijednosti IgE. Naši podaci potvrđuju prethodne rezultate upućujući na to da profesionalna izloženost prašini hrane za perad može biti povezana s razvojem kroničnih respiratornih simptoma i imunoloških promjena u izloženih radnica.The relationship between respiratory symptoms and immunological reactions was studied in 57 female workers holding jobs in the poultry food processing industry and in 51 non-exposed female workers. The prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in exposed than in control workers (P<0.01) except for occupational asthma. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in exposed workers was highest for chronic cough (49.1%), followed by dyspnoea (43.9%), rhinitis (38.6%). chronic phlegm (31.6%) and chronic bronchitis (26.3%). Occupational asthma was found in 5.3% of exposed workers. Exposed workers with positive skin prick test to poultry food demonstrated a higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms than those with negative skin tests, although the difference was statistically significant only for rhinitis (P<0.05). The most frequent positive skin reactions were found for poultry food extract (exposed: 66.7%; control: 25.5%; P<0.05). Increased IgE serum level was found in 19 (33.3%) exposed and in four (7.8%) control workers (P