Occupational asthma

Occupational asthma is a respiratory disease characterized by attacks of shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, which is caused by a variety of materials encountered in the workplace.

These symptoms usually occur due to spasm of the muscles lining the airways, so that the airway becomes very narrow.

Cause
Many substances (allergens, the cause of the symptoms) in the workplace that can cause asthma due to work. The most common are protein molecules (wood dust, grain dust, animal dander, mold particles) or other chemicals (especially diisocyanate).
Exact figures of the incidence of asthma because of the work is unknown, but suspected of approximately 20-20% of asthma in industrialized countries was asthma because of the work.



The workers who are at high risk for suffering from asthma because of the work is;

• Plastic workers
• Metal worker
• Firing workers
• Mill worker
• Workers grain
• Laboratory workers
• Woodworker
• Workers at the pharmaceutical
• Workers at the detergent factory.

Symptoms
Symptoms usually occur shortly after exposure to the allergen and is often reduced or disappear if the patient leaves his workplace.
Symptoms often get worse during the working day and improved on weekends or holidays.

Some patients experienced new symptoms within 12 hours after exposure to the allergen.

Symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Asthma
• Cough
• Feel the tightness in the chest.

Diagnosis
In the history of the disease, patients usually experience a worsening of symptoms when exposed to certain allergens in the environment where she worked.
On examination with a stethoscope would hear a wheezing (asthma, wheezing).

Other tests are usually performed:

• Pulmonary function tests
• Measurement of peak expiratory flow rates before and after work
• Chest radiograph
• Calculate blood type
• Bronchial provocation tests (to gauge reaction to the suspected allergen)
• Blood tests to find specific antibodies.

Prevention
Industries that use substances that can cause asthma, must control dust and air, because to eliminate it is an impossible thing.

Workers with severe asthma, if possible, should change his occupation because of constant exposure will make asthma worse and are settled.

If the allergen / cause has been unknown, to prevent the occurrence of symptoms, patients should avoid the allergen.

How to Diagnose Occupational asthma
Management of Occupational asthma

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