Table 2 - Presentation of organic dust-induced respiratory problems |
|
| Illness | Typical findings |
| Mucous membrane irritation syndrome | Nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea, sore throat, cough, and expectoration |
| Asthma/bronchitis | Cough,
expectoration, wheezing, chest tightness, and dyspnea, which may be associated with
blepharitis, rhinitis, and pharyngolaryngitis Pulmonary function test results: airflow obstruction and positive bronchoprovocation challenge |
| Organic dust toxic syndrome | Fever
or facial warmth, chills, shivering, malaise, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and
headache Respiratory symptoms, such as dry cough, nasal irritation, throat burning, mild dyspnea, chest tightness, and wheezing, may also occur |
| Hypersensitivity pneumonitis | Fever,
chills, malaise, myalgias, cough, dyspnea, basilar crepitant rales, and polymorphonuclear
leukocytosis Chest film findings: bilateral, diffuse, finely nodular, reticular or reticulonodular opacities with patchy areas or consolidation; pulmonary fibrosis Pulmonary function tests: reduced lung volumes, low DLCO, and hypoxemia |
| DLCO, carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity. | |