Bronchitis is the most common complaint of workers, effecting as many as 70 percent of exposed persons. This is an inflammatory-induced irritation of the airways. It may lead to chronic bronchitis, a condition with chronic cough and phlegm production. This condition effects about 25 percent of swine producers in confinement. Occupational asthma includes periodic airways obstruction, chest tightness, wheezing, and dyspnea, but does not occur on first exposure.
Occupational asthma is associated with repeated exposure to the work environment.
This condition may lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is a permanent, possibly disabling condition. This may represent a similar syndrome caused by simultaneous exposures to bioaerosols and irritant gases. There have been at least 19 acute deaths in workers resulting from sudden exposure. It is recognized that several of these conditions may occur in an individual swine worker and they may occur at the same time. B. Time for symptom development.