DISEASE NAME
|
DESCRIPTION
|
Metal fume fever
|
 |
Symptoms: flu-like
illness with a metallic taste in the mouth, throat irritation, and dry cough; |
|
Signs: leucocytosis
(high white blood cell count) is
common; normal chest x-ray; |
|
Onset after exposure:
3-10 hours; |
|
Heavy exposure to: zinc
oxide fume or dust, e.g., after welding or flame cutting of galvanized steel, high
temperature zinc coating processes, or metal pouring in brass foundries; (Brass is an alloy
of copper and zinc.) |
|
Resolution:
spontaneously within 48 hours; |
|
Comments: After an episode, there is a temporary period of tolerance for a day or two
afterwards. Copper and magnesium fume can also cause metal fume fever. It is important to distinguish metal fume fever
(white zinc fume) from cadmium pneumonitis (yellow cadmium fume). [Rosenstock,
p. 955] |
|
Polymer fume fever
|
|
Symptoms: flu-like
illness with chest tightness and mild cough; |
|
Signs:
leucocytosis;
normal chest x-ray; |
|
Onset after exposure:
4-8 hours; |
|
Heavy exposure to:
pyrolysis products of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, trade names Fluon, Teflon,
Halon); |
|
Resolution: within 48
hours; |
|
Comments: Polymer
fume fever occurs when PTFE is heated above 300o C. When PTFE is
heated above 450o, the pyrolysis products are different and may
cause acute lung injury if controls to enclose the fume have not been installed. |
|
Humidifier fever
|
|
Symptoms: flu-like
illness; |
|
Signs: leucocytosis;
normal chest x-ray; |
|
Onset after exposure:
4-8 hours; |
|
Heavy exposure to:
bioaerosols from air conditioning and humidifier systems; |
|
Resolution:
spontaneously within two to three days; |
|
Comments: associated
with stagnant water and forced-air ventilation systems; |
|
Organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS)
|
|
Symptoms: flu-like
illness with cough preceded by eye and nasal irritation; |
|
Signs:
leucocytosis;
normal chest x-ray; |
|
Onset after exposure:
4-8 hours; |
|
Heavy exposure to:
dusts from organic matter such as moldy hay, silage, compost or wood chips; |
|
Resolution: within two
to three days; |
|
Comments: As for other
inhalation fevers, the treatment is supportive only. |
|
Grain fever
|
|
Symptoms: flu-like
illness; |
|
Signs:
leucocytosis;
normal chest x-ray; |
|
Onset after exposure:
4-8 hours; |
|
Heavy exposure to:
grain dust; |
|
Resolution: within two
to three days; |
|
Comments: Grain
dust contains bacterial endotoxins, storage mites and fungi. |
|
Mill fever
|
|
Symptoms: flu-like
illness with rhinitis; |
|
Signs:
leucocytosis;
normal chest x-ray; |
|
Onset after exposure;
1-6 hours; |
|
Heavy exposure to:
dusts of cotton, flax, soft hemp, or kapok; |
|
Resolution: few hours
to few days; |
|
Comments: A
common etiology is suspected for mill fever and byssinosis: plant
dusts contaminated with gram-negative endotoxins. |
|
Pontiac fever
|
|
Symptoms: flu-like
illness; |
|
Signs: leucocytosis is
common; normal chest x-ray; |
|
Onset after exposure: 5
hours to less than 3 days; |
|
Heavy exposure to:
bioaerosols containing the bacterium, Legionella pneumophila; |
|
Resolution: one to five
days; |
|
Comments: Legionnaires'
disease is also caused by Legionella pneumophila. In contrast
to Legionnaires' disease, the attack rate for Pontiac fever is high
(95-100%), the incubation period is short (5 to 66 hours), and the
illness is benign and self-limited (resolution in 1 to 5 days). |
|
