[Work underlying respiratory symptoms?]

Every medical practitioner attending working-aged patients will encounter patients, whose respiratory symptoms are associated with work. Most commonly such symptoms constitute irritational symptoms of the respiratory passages or exacerbation of a disease such as asthma. Connection of the symptoms with work can easily be screened at the surgery visit with brief questions. In cases of suspected occupational disease, investigations by a specialized clinic are needed. Sometimes exclusion of occupational disease is required, before a decision can be made that the symptoms are caused by nonspecific stimuli. Even if the patient does not have an occupational disease, collaboration with occupational health services may prove fruitful.