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home:diseases:peripheral_neuropathy [01.12.2019] – [Patient interviews] sallieq | home:diseases:peripheral_neuropathy [01.12.2019] – [Introduction] sallieq | ||
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===== Research ===== | ===== Research ===== | ||
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===== Evidence of infectious cause ===== | ===== Evidence of infectious cause ===== | ||
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+ | November 18, 2009 (Philadelphia, | ||
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+ | Food-borne infection with Campylobacter jejuni, a common pathogen associated with poultry and swine exposure, is considered a major risk factor for peripheral neuropathies, | ||
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+ | Campylobacteriosis, | ||
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+ | "These are diseases [that farm workers] may develop as a result of their contact with farm birds and animals and the pathogens they carry," | ||
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+ | Among swine farmers and workers, the risk for numbness was 18% and 23% higher, respectively, | ||
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+ | Among poultry farmers and workers, the risk for numbness was significantly higher than among control subjects (27% vs 25%; P < .05). No increase in self-reported speech or vision problems was observed, note the investigators. | ||
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+ | "Our findings strongly suggest that [farmers and farm workers] are going to be at higher risk," she cautioned. | ||
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+ | "The public health significance is that we need to focus on farm worker safety, potentially using more protective gear and educational programs, and doing more surveillance for diseases that they might develop as a result of their contact with farm animals and birds," | ||
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+ | A total of 52,395 farmers from North Carolina and Iowa were recruited from the Agricultural Health Study between 1993 and 1997. A complete set of data for key symptoms and exposures was available for 20,599 participants. Of these, 15,932 farmers and workers were exposed to swine and poultry. | ||
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+ | Swine farmers (n = 7079), swine confinement workers (n = 5930), poultry farmers (n = 784), and poultry workers (n = 713) were evaluated for possible exposure to C jejuni and compared with farmers who reported no occupational animal exposure. | ||
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+ | Symptoms relevant to inflammatory peripheral neuropathies, | ||
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+ | Exposure to birds and pigs was used as a surrogate for Campylobacter exposure, explained the investigators, | ||
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+ | "What we are going to do as a follow-up is to look more closely at this association, | ||
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+ | "A very well-run study," | ||
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+ | Controlling pathogens like C jejuni at the farm level might help reduce risks for occupational exposure and address concerns regarding food-borne disease, conclude the investigators. | ||
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+ | The work was supported in part by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Davis and Ms. Hurt have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. | ||
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+ | American Public Health Association (APHA) 137th Annual Meeting: Abstract 213221. Presented November 8, 2009.</ | ||
===== Management ===== | ===== Management ===== |