Humidifier fever

HUMIDIFIER FEVER A flu-Uke illness caused by inhalation of fine droplets of water from humidifiers that have become contaminated. 

Humidifier Fever A respiratory illness caused by exposure to toxins from microorganisms found in wet or moist areas in humidifiers and air conditioners. Also called air conditioner or ventilation fever. 

For all humidifiers, full consideration should be given to the possibility of the growth of fungi, algae, bacteria, and in particular Legionella pneumophila, the microbiological contamination that causes humidifier fever, etc. 

Humidifier fever An illness caused by the growth of microorganisms in air cooling coils. These microorganisms or their generated toxins may be carried in the airstream to the conditioned space, causing an allergic response in susceptible people. 

Eye, nose, and throat irritation dizziness lethargy fever. May act as asthma trigger may transmit humidifier fever influenza, common cold, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. 

It is worthwhile drawing attention to health hazards associated with film infected water systems which also cause corrosion. Two of the most common are Legionnaires disease and so called humidifier fever . Because of strong adhesion of biofilms and diffusion rates through the film treatment based on cleaners and chemical sterilisers such as chlorine often fail similar considerations apply to other systems in industry, e.g. food, paint, oil and gas are examples where biofilm activities have given massive problems. 

Environmental airborne endotoxins are usually associated with dust particles or aqueous aerosol with a broad size distribution. Endotoxin exposure has been associated with a variety of pulmonary and systemic diseases in homes, office buildings and occupational environments. These diseases or conditions include chronic nose and throat irritation, humidifier fever, organic dust toxic syndrome, grain fever, byssinosis, asthma-like syndrome, exacerbation of asthma, and progressive irreversible airflow obstruction (Heederik et al., 1991 Michel et al., 1996 Muittari et al., 1980 Olenchock, 1990 Rylan-der, 1996 Rylander et al., 1978 Schenker et al., 1998 Schwartz et al., 1994 Schwartz et al., 1995). Recognition of the link between endotoxin exposures and these conditions has led to proposals to establish occupational health exposure limits. The Netherlands Health Council has recently published a criteria document for endotoxin that recommends a health-based occupational exposure limit of 50 EU/m for full shift, personal, inhalable dust sampling (Douwes and Heederik, 1998). 

Rylander R., Haglind P., Lundholm M., Mattsby I. and Stenqvistn K. (1978) Humidifier fever and endotoxin exposure. Clin. Allergy, 8, 511-516. 

Controi strategies for typicai biological ill-health conditions Weil s Disease air conditioning/humidifier fever anthrax Legionnaire s Disease glanders brucellosis aspergillosis viral hepatitis AIDS. 

Amoebae Animal protein Enzymes Isocyanates Moulds Air conditioning (humidifier fever) Hair cutting, veterinary work Raw cotton Used in belt-joining glues, two-pack paints, manufacture of foam and polyurethane rubbers Hay, grain, cheese... 

Humidifier fever (allergy). Legionnaire s disease (a pneiunonia), transmission of disease, e.g. influenza Erysipelas, Q-fever, brucellosis, leptospirosis, hydatid... 

Building-related illness. One or more occupants develop a chnically diagnosed disease that may be related to the occupant s presence in the building. Examples include humidifier fever, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Legionnaires disease, and Pontiac fever. 

Employee health may be adversely affected by indoor air contaminants including environmental tobacco smoke, volatile organic compounds, bioeffluents, microbial allergens, and Legionella (a bacterium). Some of these contaminants can cause discomfort eye, nose, and throat irritation humidifier fever and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Legionella can cause Legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever. Some contaminants may be carcinogenic. 

Baur X et al. (1988) Humidifier lung and humidifier fever. Lung 166(2) 113-124... 

The exceptions to this rule in the 1970s and early 1980s were specific cases of asbestos, radon, and formaldehyde poisoning, as well as acute outbreaks of pathogens inside ventilation systems, such as the deadly Legionnaires disease or humidifier fever. 

---