Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik

Publications of Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik

• Occupational allergy to birds within the population of Polish bird keepers employed in zoo gardens.

  Authors: Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik, Anna Krakowiak, Marta Wiszniewska, Ewa Nowakowska-Świrta, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa, Konrad Sliwkiewicz, Cezary Pałczyński

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 09/2011; 24(3):292-303.

  To evaluate the risk factors for the development of occupational allergy to birds among Polish zoo garden keepers. A total of 200 bird zookeepers employed in the Polish zoo gardens in KLódź, Warsaw,To evaluate the risk factors for the development of occupational allergy to birds among Polish zoo garden keepers. A total of 200 bird zookeepers employed in the Polish zoo gardens in KLódź, Warsaw, Gdańsk, Chorzów and Płock and exposed occupationally to bird allergens were examined using a questionnaire, skin prick tests (SPTs) to common allergens and bird allergens, spirometry and cytograms of nasal swab. The level of total IgE in serum and serum-specific IgE to parrot, canary, pigeon feathers and serum were also evaluated. Eight percent of bird zookeepers were sensitized to at least one of the bird allergens. The most frequent allergens yielding positive SPT results were D. farinae - 32 cases (16%), D. pteronyssinus - 30 cases (15%) and grass pollens (16.5%). In the studied group, allergen-specific IgE against bird allergens occurred with the following frequency: 87 (43.5%) against canary feathers and/or serum, 80 (40%) against parrot feathers and/or serum and 82 (41%) against pigeon feathers and/or serum. Occupational allergy was diagnosed in 39 (26.5%) cases, occupational rhinitis was present in 22 (15%) cases, occupational asthma in 20 (13.6%) subjects, occupational conjunctivitis in 18 (12.2%) cases, whereas occupational skin diseases in 11 (7.5%) cases. More eosinophils were found in nose swab cytograms among bird zookeepers with occupational airway allergy. The findings indicate that occupational allergy to birds is an important health problem among zoo bird keepers in Poland.

• [Health hazards associated with occupational exposure to birds].

  Authors: Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik, Anna Krakowiak, Marta Wiszniewska, Wojciech Dudek, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa, Patrycja Krawczyk-Szulc, Aleksandra Michowicz, Cezary Pałczyński

  Medycyna pracy. 01/2010; 61(2):213-22.

  The occupational group particularly exposed to contact with birds are zoo keepers, animal shop workers, individual bird's keepers and food industry workers. Work associated with contact with birdsThe occupational group particularly exposed to contact with birds are zoo keepers, animal shop workers, individual bird's keepers and food industry workers. Work associated with contact with birds may contribute to the development of different symptoms and diseases, including allergic and contagious ones. This paper reviews the most common allergens occurring in the environment of bird's keepers, namely: feathers, egg proteins, allergens of plant origin, acarinae, allergens from latex and disinfectants. The most common health effects associated with occupational exposure to birds are also presented. Taking account of not fully understood pathogenesis of allergy to these allergens, complexity of occupational exposure and a possible coincidence of non-specific irritant effects of factors present in work environment, the diagnostic and certification procedures for occupational allergic diseases require highly specialized investigations. Objective and subjective medical examinations, taken medical history and physical examination also play a significant role in diagnostics of contagious diseases, whereas different laboratory tests are used in searching for their etiologic factors. The prevention of diseases associated with occupational exposure to birds comprises educational work, technical actions (hygiene prophylaxis) and medical prophylaxis.

• Work-related respiratory symptoms in bird zoo keepers--questionnaire data.

  Authors: Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik, Anna Krakowiak, Marta Wiszniewska, Wojciech Dudek, Monika Kowalczyk, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa, Konrad Sliwkiewicz, Cezary Pałczyński

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 01/2009; 22(4):393-9.

  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. Two hundred workers respondedTo investigate the risk factors for the development of airway diseases from occupational exposure to birds' allergens among Polish zoo garden keepers caring for birds. 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. 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. The findings may confirm that work-related respiratory symptoms are an important health problem among zoo bird keepers in Poland.

• Occupational asthma caused by cobalt chloride in a diamond polisher after cessation of occupational exposure: a case report.

  Authors: Anna Krakowiak, Wojciech Dudek, Maciej Tarkowski, Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik, Ewa Nieścierenko, Cezary Pałczyński

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 02/2005; 18(2):151-8.

  OBJECTIVES: The inspiration of cobalt containing dust leads to various respiratory symptoms, including asthma and interstitial lung disease. Occupational asthma caused by cobalt chloride has beenOBJECTIVES: The inspiration of cobalt containing dust leads to various respiratory symptoms, including asthma and interstitial lung disease. Occupational asthma caused by cobalt chloride has been diagnosed in a 35-year-old patient, who worked as a diamond polishing disc former. The patient presented a 2-year history of dyspnea, cough and symptoms of rhinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient underwent a medical history interview, skin prick tests with common and occupational allergens (cobalt and nickel chloride), and pulmonary function testing both before and after the nasal provocation with 0.05% cobalt chloride. Additionally, the authors analyzed morphological and biochemical changes before and after the specific nasal challenge test. Cell proliferation analysis was also carried out. RESULTS: Skin prick tests (SPTs) with common environmental allergens were found to be negative, while SPTs with cobalt chloride were positive for all applied solutions. The provocation with cobalt chloride caused a significant increase in the proportion of eosinophils, basophils and albumin during the late allergic reaction. The positive lymphocyte transformation caused by cobalt was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Cobalt salts may induce occupational asthma. The mechanism of this asthma may be IgE-mediated. The cobalt-sensitized lymphocytes may play an important role in this disease.

• [Occupational alergy: a major health hazard among food processing workers]

  Authors: Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik, Anna Krakowiak, Tomasz Wittczak, Cezary Pałczyriski

  Medycyna pracy. 02/2005; 56(6):475-83.

  Food-processing is one of the industries characterized by high exposure to occupational allergens. Exposure to allergens of plant or animal origin is most extensive during food processing, includingFood-processing is one of the industries characterized by high exposure to occupational allergens. Exposure to allergens of plant or animal origin is most extensive during food processing, including meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and grain products as well as during production of animal feed and other foodstuffs. Respiratory diseases are the major problem in the food processing industry. It is essential to better recognize the structure of food allergens and mechanisms by which they induce diseases to identify risk factors and health problems which may occur in workers. The authors describe the most essential food allergens responsible for occupational diseases, reactions resulting from exposure to food allergens in the occupational context, their diagnosis and prevention in food processing workers.