Prevalence of symptoms (respiratory and non-respiratory) among poultry farm workers in India

Abstract

Manpreet Kaur Taluja, Vidushi Gupta, Garima Sharma, Jaspreet Singh Arora

Background: Poultry confinement workers often develop adverse health effects as a result of exposure to poultry dust arising from work activity. Exposure to high levels of airborne dust and endotoxins is known to cause many respiratory diseases and deterioration of lung function. Aim: To record the symptoms and to evaluate the association between the symptoms and pulmonary test result in poultry farm workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 66 poultry farm workers and 66 healthy controls of Ludhiana city of Punjab (India). Data were analyzed using student’s t-test and chi-square test. Results: Overall 43.93% of poultry farm workers reported symptoms, which include shortness of breath (20.68%), cough (34.48%), sneezing (20.68%), nasal discharge (17.24%), phlegm (24.13%), sore throat (6.89%), itching eyes (27.58%), itching skin (6.89%), pain abdomen (6.89%), headache (10.34%), and fever (3.44%). Overall respiratory morbidity was 53.03%. The association between the number of symptoms and pulmonary functions was statistically non-significant (p = 0.2400). Conclusion: Poultry farm workers are more prone to work-related symptoms of both respiratory and non-respiratory. So, there is a need for an intervention program to protect poultry workers health.