[Occupational asthma. A case series]

Asthma has a global prevalence of 18%. In work-related asthma, there is an association between asthma and the exposure to dust, vapors, or fumes only at the workplace, in patients with or without a previous asthma diagnosis; it represents approximately 5-25% of the cases of adult onset asthma. In Mexico, the information about this topic is scarce.

A series of 17 patients with an asthma diagnosis and occupational exposure to dust, vapors, or fumes is reported; occupational asthma was determined by the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Service at Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI.

Occupational health is essential for the proper performance of the staff, the optimal performance of the work unit, and for avoiding health damages, economic losses, and social implications. The role of the physician in charge of occupational health in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and timely management of frequent pathologies according to the work sector, represents a great area of opportunity that is important to fulfill in many work centers.