title: Work-related respiratory symptoms in bird zoo keepers--questionnaire data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the risk factors for the development of airway diseases from occupational exposure to birds' allergens among Polish zoo garden keepers caring for birds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred workers responded to the questionnaire including the history of work-related symptoms, job characteristics, description of occupational exposure, information on smoking habit, contact with birds and animals at home and family history of allergic diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  General work-related symptoms were reported by 58 subjects (29%), whereas work-related respiratory symptoms were found in 40 workers (20%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed the significant role of positive family history of atopy and occupational contact with parrots either in the development of work-related symptoms or work-related respiratory allergic symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings may confirm that work-related respiratory symptoms are an important health problem among zoo bird keepers in Poland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swiderska-Kiełbik
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krakowiak
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiszniewska
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dudek
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walusiak-Skorupa
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sliwkiewicz
authors.forename: Cezary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pałczyński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001717:Birds; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires