City dwellers may not be familiar with Organic Dust Toxicity Syndrome (ODTS) but it is a fairly common illness affecting farmers
ODTS is mild and short-lived. symptoms resemble the flu or other mild illnesses.
Farmer’s Lung is an allergic inflammation of the lungs. Those who develop this disease has had prior exposure causing sensitization to mold. Farmer’s Lung may be chronic, disabling and life threatening, and can affect anyone exposed to molds like thermoactinomycetes or Aspergillus.
Symptoms include cough, fever, chills, fatigue, muscle pain, and loss of appetite. In Farmer’s lung, blood oxygen level is reduced, lung function may have mild to severe restriction. Half of the treatment is to stay away from mold. Corticosteroids may be prescribed. A study of Organic Dust Toxicity Syndrome is available here:
http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/19961200684.html;jsessionid=C9F626A02A0E64726A8008A60A907B3E and here
If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.