Occupational asthma caused by iroko wood

Area of Science:

• Occupational Medicine
• Pulmonology
• Allergy and Immunology

Background:

• Occupational asthma is a significant workplace health concern.
• Iroko wood is a known potential sensitizer.
• Understanding the immunological response to occupational allergens is crucial.

Observation:

• A patient presented with symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma.
• Bronchial provocation testing (BPT) was performed using iroko wood extract.
• The patient exhibited both early and late asthmatic responses to BPT.

Findings:

• The BPT revealed a biphasic response with a prolonged recovery period.
• Pretreatment with cromoglycate and beclomethasone did not inhibit the asthmatic response.
• The patient became symptom-free three months after removing exposure to iroko wood.

Implications:

• Iroko wood exposure can cause occupational asthma.
• Standard asthma medications may not effectively prevent reactions in sensitized individuals.
• Non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity may persist even after allergen avoidance.