Guest guest Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Occupational asthma Definition Occupational asthma is a lung disorder characterized by attacks of breathing difficulty, wheezing, prolonged exhalation, and cough. It is caused by various agents found in the work place (see also bronchial asthma). These symptoms are usually due to spasms of the muscles lining the airways, which cause them to narrow excessively. Alternative Names Asthma - occupational exposure; Irritant-induced reactive airways disease Causes There are many agents in the workplace that can cause occupational asthma. Most commonly, these include protein molecules (wood dust, grain dust, animal dander, fungi) or other chemicals (especially di-isocyanates). Though the actual rate of occurrence of occupational asthma is unknown, it is suspected to cause 2-20% of all cases of asthma in industrialized nations. The following workers are at higher risk: Plastics workers Metal workers Bakers Millers Farmers Grain elevator workers Laboratory workers Woodworkers Drug manufacturers Detergent manufacturers Symptoms Symptoms usually occur shortly after exposure to the offending agent (the allergen) and often improve or disappear when the affected person leaves the workplace. The symptoms often worsen as the work week progresses and resolve on weekends or vacations. Some people may experience a delayed onset of symptoms, occurring as many as 12 hours after exposure to the allergen. Shortness of breath Wheezing Cough A feeling of tightness in the chest Exams and Tests The medical history reveals a pattern of worsening symptoms associated with exposure to a specific agent or workplace environment. Making the association with the correct allergen can be very difficult. Wheezing may be heard when listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation). Tests used in the diagnosis of occupational asthma may include the following: Pulmonary function tests Measurement of the peak expiratory flow rate (peak-flow) before and after work Chest X-ray CBC Bronchial provocation test (test measuring reaction to the suspected allergen) Blood tests to reveal specific antibodies to suspected offending substances http://www.lifespan.org/adam/healthillustratedencyclopedia/1/000110.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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