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Occupational asthma Causes and Risks:
Numerous agents in the work place known to cause occupational asthma include: grain dust, wood dust, tobacco, pollens, enzymes, synthetic dyes, metals, animal proteins , fungi, pharmaceutical agents, and others. Asthma affects 1 out of 20 of the overall population, and occupational asthma represents 2 to 5% of all cases of asthma. Risk factors include the following occupations: plastics workers, metal workers, bakers, millers, farmers, grain elevator workers, laboratory workers, wood workers, drug manufacturers, and detergent manufacturers. The incidence is 7 out of 10,000 people.
Prevention:
Once the cause is determined, avoid further exposure to that agent.
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
Wheezing may be heard when listening to the chest with a stethoscope ( auscultation ) The history reveals environmental exposure.
Tests used in the diagnosis of occupational asthma may include:
Treatment:
The objective of treatment is to limit exposure to the causative agent and improve symptoms with bronchodilator therapy. Medications include hand held inhalers or nebulizer to deliver bronchodilators (Proventil, Alupent, Bronkosol, and others). Other therapies for bronchial asthma may be added for more severe cases.
Support Groups:
The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See asthma and allergy - support group .
Prognosis:
The outcome for people with asthma in general is good, but symptoms may persist for years after work place exposure has been eliminated.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if signs of occupational asthma develop.
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have occupational asthma and signs of respiratory infection, or other new symptoms, develop.
Picture:
P0604.pctSpirometry
Spirometry is a painless study of air volume and flow rate within the lungs. Spirometry is frequently used to evaluate lung function in people with obstructive or restrictive lung diseases (such as asthma or cystic fibrosis).
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