Occupational asthma in a cheese packer

Occupational asthma is an increasingly common clinical problem. A worker who develops asthma for the first time when starting work in a new environment may be straightforward to diagnose. However, when asthma occurs after a latent period following initial exposure, or when a pre-existing asthmatic develops work-related symptoms, the occupational link may be less easy to appreciate. This case report concerns a cheese factory worker with pre-existing asthma who experienced severe symptoms when a new process was introduced for drying grated cheese and was able to return to work only after the process was modified. The drying agent responsible has not been previously reported as a cause of asthma.