[Drug prevention and physical protection in occupational asthma]

Many means of protection can be used in work-related asthma. Drug protection may be by symptomatic treatment with classical anti-allergic drugs such as Cromoglycate and Ketotifen. Therapy with corticosteroids has a preventative action on the delayed allergic reaction. Drug protection is however only palliative and incomplete. Individual physical protection needs masks that may be filtering, or anti-dust, or anti-gas, or helmets or masks that have air addition, or even autonomous respirators. The main efforts in prevention should be made against the responsible agents, with their identification and reduction of the level of exposure. This reduction of exposure may be done by re-structuring the work place, by sufficient ventilation and extraction or by addition of moisteners. Modification of the manufacturing process may also be affective, by alterations to make the manipulations in a chamber or closed circuit, to the apparatus, automation and computer control or changes or replacement of the agents responsible for the work-related asthma.