Occupational asthma
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Occupational asthma Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Case Studies |
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Occupational asthma On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Occupational asthma |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Occupational asthma from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Criteria | History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | EKG | Chest X ray | Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Treatment
- According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), better education of workers, management, unions and medical professionals is the key to the prevention of OA. This will enable them to identify the risk factors and put in place preventive measures like masks or exposure limits, etc.
- Recovery is directly dependent on the duration and level of exposure to the causative agent. Depending on the severity of the case, the condition of the patient can improve dramatically during the first year after removal from exposure.
- Three basic types of procedures are used for treating the affected workers[1]:
1) Reducing exposure
- This method is most effective for those affected by irritant-induced OA.
- Thus, by reducing their exposure duration and level to the causative agent, the probability of suffering another reaction is lowered. But exposure can be reduced in other ways like making use of face masks or providing better ventilation.
- Now, more and more di-isocyanate free spray paints are available.
- Similarly, most hospitals and healthcare companies have exchanged latex gloves for other materials. Thus, reducing exposure to known asthmagens can also be used as a preventive measure.
2) Removal from exposure
- Persons affected by OA that occurred after a latency period, whether a few months or years, must be immediately removed from exposure to the causative agent. This is their only chance of recovery.
- This entails severe socio-economic consequences for the worker as well as the employer due to loss of job, unemployment, compensation issues, quasi-permanent medical expenditures, hiring and re-training of new personnel, etc.
- According to recent research, the probability that those who suffer from OA remain unemployed longer than those who suffer from non-occupational asthma is higher. One solution to this problem is relocating the employee in the same company away from the causative agents.
3) Medical and pharmacological treatment
- Anyone diagnosed with asthma will have to undergo medical treatment.
- This is complementary to either removing or reducing the patient’s exposure to the causal agents.
- Two types of medication can be used:
- Relievers or bronchodilators
- Preventers Anti-inflammatory agents like corticosteroids, LKTRA or mast cell stabilizers can be used depending on the severity of the case.
Short-acting beta-agonists like salbutamol or terbutaline or long-acting beta-agonists like salmeterol and formoterol or anticholinergic, etc. dilate airways which relieve the symptoms thus reducing the severity of the reaction. Some patients also use it just before work to avoid a drop in the FEV1.
Compensation issues
- When a person is diagnosed as having occupational asthma, it can result in serious socio-economic consequences not only for the workers but also for the employer and the healthcare system. The employee has to be taken off job immediately to prevent any further damage to his health. And, the probability of being re-employed is lower for those suffering from OA as compared to those suffering from normal asthma. The employer not only pays compensation to the employee, but will also have to spend a considerable amount of time and energy and funds for hiring and training new personnel. [2][3]
Related Chapters
References
- ↑
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003443.htm
- ↑ Medicolegal and compensation aspects of occupational asthma. Dewitte JD, Chan-Yeung M, Malo J-L.