However, not all of parts of the immune system may be involved. Steroid therapy has been used to treat the disease with varying degrees of success. Specifically working in silos properly ventilated, and where possible not working alone. ![]() The best treatment for the disease is prevention through education of farm workers and managers. This is due to the rapid consumption of oxygen by nitrogen oxides resulting in less oxygen being available, with resulting hypoxia. Sudden death has been reported due to exposure at extremely high concentrations of gas. Impaired breathing also occurs as was measured by Scott and Hunt. In lower concentrations exudate and bronchia-constriction are observed. Pulmonary edema may be found if high concentrations of gas are inhaled during normal breathing and work related to silo operations. The nitrogen dioxide will accumulate first at the top of the poorly ventilated silos (200 – 2000 ppm within 1-2 days) and when inhaled by humans or other animals the reaction of the NO 2 with water results in nitrous acid, causing damage to the airways, or potentially any other surface that was exposed to NO 2. In the early stages of exposure, there is lung irritation with symptoms including pulmonary edema post exposure followed by what may appear to be a brief recovery and then a relapse to acute bronchilolitis. High concentrations are reached within a few days and will dissipate at a slower rate (weeks) upon ventilation. Nitrogen gas will accumulate in closed silos within a short time (hours) of the silo being filled. Nitrogen dioxide is produced from the oxidation of plants or from nitrogen rich soil. This commonly occurs in unventilated or under-ventilated grain silos. The syndrome is caused by exposure to nitrous dioxide. The condition was first described, but not named in the 1800’s. Silo Filler’s Disease is a condition that has been long associated with farm laborers. Farmer’s Lung (FL) and Silo Filler’s Disease (SF) have similar symptomology but vastly different etiologic agents. This is due to the nature of the work and the natural self-reliance of the farm managers and workers. Lung disease in the farming community in the United States and around the world is often underreported or ignored. In agricultural areas, nitrogen dioxide buildup can impair an individual’s immune response and working with farm products which may occur during hay making season can lead to infections. While mortality due to infectious disease has decreased, respiratory related infections still remain a major problem. The portal of entry and target organ is often the lung. These effects may not be recognized immediately but over time and with increased opportunities for exposure, pollutants regardless of their source, which include a range from carbon monoxide released into the atmosphere to nitrogen gas buildup in silos found on farms, can and do progress to immunologic disorders or infection. Regardless of how one defines climate change there is increasing awareness that this condition is caused by pollution, and generalized disease states on a global scale and on a more individualized level, respiratory disease can occur. Lung, farmer, disease, agriculture, inflammation, mold Disease states ![]() Following precautions such as masking, allowing for farm products such as hay to dry during the wet seasons and using ventilation in at risk facilities leads to greater protection for the agricultural worker. Both may be fatal, and both are preventable largely by education of the conditions with which farmers work, including certain straightforward precautions. ![]() Farmer’s Lung is caused by mold and Silo Filler’s Disease is caused essentially by gas poisoning. The symptomology, including route of inoculation for these diseases are similar, as is the target organ (lung) but the disease causing agents are vastly different, as is how the human body responds to the antigens themselves. Farmer’s Lung and Silo Filler’s Disease are syndromes long associated with agricultural workers worldwide.
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