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Work-related asthma
1Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. syouakim@telusplanet.net
American Family Physician
|January 5, 2002
Summary
Occupational asthma, affecting at least 10% of adult asthma cases, requires physician recognition of work-relatedness. Diagnosis involves history and objective tests, with treatment similar to nonoccupational asthma but emphasizing exposure reduction or elimination for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Medicine
- Pulmonology
- Allergology
Background:
- Work-related asthma constitutes a significant portion of adult asthma cases, encompassing both aggravation of pre-existing conditions and new-onset asthma due to occupational exposures.
- Occupational exposures can lead to reactive airway dysfunction syndrome from irritants or allergic occupational asthma from allergens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of physician recognition of the work-relatedness of asthma.
- To outline diagnostic approaches for work-related asthma.
- To discuss treatment and prevention strategies for occupational asthma.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis relies on a thorough patient history to identify potential occupational links and triggers.
- Objective confirmation involves pulmonary function tests, bronchial hyperresponsiveness assessments (nonspecific and specific), serial peak expiratory flow rate measurements, and skin allergy testing.
- Evaluating the correlation between work exposure and asthma symptoms is crucial.
Main Results:
- Physician recognition of work-relatedness is a critical diagnostic step.
- A combination of historical data and objective tests can confirm asthma and its occupational link.
- Treatment protocols for occupational asthma are consistent with those for nonoccupational asthma, focusing on anti-inflammatory medications and bronchodilators.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of occupational asthma necessitates prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
- Preventive measures are paramount, involving the reduction of exposure to aggravating factors in work-aggravated or irritant-induced asthma.
- For allergic occupational asthma, complete elimination of exposure to the causative agent is essential to prevent severe or fatal reactions.