Airway Diseases and Occupational Exposures in Poultry Industry Workers: A Comprehensive Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The rapid expansion of the poultry industry has significantly increased the demand for poultry meat and related products due to improvements in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, this rapid global commercialization has led to an increase in occupational asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease in poultry workers. Exposure to a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds, fumes, microorganisms, and particulate matter found in poultry barns has been linked to airway disease in workers. These airborne contaminants include allergens such as feathers, mites, feed dust, molds, ammonia, and bacterial endotoxins, which contribute to airway inflammation, hypersensitivity, and chronic lung damage. Workers may experience symptoms ranging from wheezing and chest tightness to chronic cough and dyspnea, which can progress to clinically significant respiratory conditions if unrecognized and unmanaged.

RECENT FINDINGS: In attempts to minimize these effects, best practices and strategies to reduce these pollutants are actively being researched and implemented. The role of healthcare providers is pivotal in early identification of at-risk workers, thorough occupational history-taking, appropriate diagnostic evaluation, and tailored management to prevent disease progression and improve outcomes. This review highlights the critical need for ongoing surveillance, preventive measures, and education to protect respiratory health in this vulnerable occupational group.