[Symptoms and functional disorders of the respiratory system caused by exposure to tea dust]

A case report is presented of a female worker of a tee packing factory, with a 5 years history of tea dust exposition and symptoms of reversible airway obstruction and early allergic alveolitis. The results of spirometric and lung mechanics demonstrated reversible airway obstruction with co-existent restrictive changes, lowering of CO diffusing capacity (DLc0). Bronchial provocation tests with tea dust were carried out thrice and all were positive. The authors believe that the etiological factor of above mentioned changes were Aspergillus niger spores found in tea dust. Tea dust and the patient's sputum cultured for fungi revealed massive growth of A. niger. Serological tests revealed additionally, antibodies to A. niger and tea dust extracts. The authors discuss the possible mechanisms of airway disturbances in this patient.