RESUMO
Background and objectives: breeding poultry indoors is increasingly common People who work in these settings may suffer some health disorders. This study aimed at assessing respiratory and skin disorders resulting from occupational exposure among workers in the poultry breeding farms and some associated environmental and work characteristics
Subjects and methods: the study was conducted in three randomly selected chicken breeding farms [Menoufiya Governorate]. All exposed workers [n=50] and a similar number of matched controls were subjected to structured questionnaire full clinical examination, Spiro metric measurements and skin prick testing. Environmental studies of the workplace were also done
Results: levels of dust formaldehyde and ammonia inside the studied farms were within the standard of the Egyptian Environmental Law. Exposed workers reported significantly higher prevalence of cough [70% vs.34%1, wheezes [42% us. 10[degree]hl. and repeated attacks of fever [12% vs.0.096] as compared with controls. Mean values of the percentages of VC, WC, FEV l, FEV l /FVC. F'EF25 and FEF50 of the predicated values were significantly lower among exposed workers than controls. Baseline Spiro metric function results were significantly associated with ventilation conditions of the poultry houses and type of work, being lower in workers of poorly ventilated farm and among breeders. Also 68% of exposed workers had positive skin prick test results to feed, mites, house dust dropping or feather antigens found in the workplace compared to none of the controls. p<0.001. Workers with positive skin test also should significantly lower values of FEV1, FEV1 / FVC and FEF50 than exposed workers with negative skin prick test for any of the studied antigens
Conclusion and recommendations: workers in chicken breeding farms are at risk of developing skin allergy, respiratory symptoms and ventilatory dysfunction of both obstructive and restrictive patterns that were influenced by farm ventilation and type of work. Which should be stressed upon on preempbyement curd periodic medical examinations