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| '''For patient information click [[{{PAGENAME}} (patient information)|here]]''' | | __NOTOC__'''For patient information click [[{{PAGENAME}} (patient information)|here]]''' |
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| {{Occupational asthma}} | | {{Occupational asthma}} |
| {{CMG}}; {{AOEIC}} {{LG}} | | {{CMG}}; {{AOEIC}} {{LG}} |
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| ==[[Occupational asthma overview|Overview]]== | | ==[[Occupational asthma overview|Overview]]== |
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| ==[[Occupational asthma screening|Screening]]== | | ==[[Occupational asthma screening|Screening]]== |
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| ==[[Occupational asthma natural history, complications and prognosis|Natural History, Complications and Prognosis]]== | | ==[[Occupational asthma natural history, complications and prognosis|Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis]]== |
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| ==Diagnosis== | | ==Diagnosis== |
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| [[Occupational asthma diagnostic criteria|Diagnostic Criteria]] | [[Occupational asthma history and symptoms|History and Symptoms]] | [[Occupational asthma physical examination|Physical Examination]] | [[Occupational asthma laboratory findings|Laboratory Findings]] | [[Occupational asthma electrocardiogram|EKG]] | [[Occupational asthma chest x ray|Chest X ray]] | [[Occupational asthma other diagnostic studies|Other Diagnostic Studies]]
| | [[Occupational asthma history and symptoms|History and Symptoms]] | [[Occupational asthma physical examination|Physical Examination]] | [[Occupational asthma laboratory findings|Laboratory Findings]] | [[Occupational asthma electrocardiogram|EKG]] | [[Occupational asthma chest x ray|Chest X ray]] | [[Occupational asthma other diagnostic studies|Other Diagnostic Studies]] |
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| ==Treatment== | | ==Treatment== |
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| ==Case Studies== | | ==Case Studies== |
| [[Occupational asthma case study one|Case #1]] | | [[Occupational asthma case study one|Case #1]] |
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| ==Treatment==
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| *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.
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| * 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.
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| *Three basic types of procedures are used for treating the affected workers<ref name="EvidenceReport"/>:
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| ====1) Reducing exposure====
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| * This method is most effective for those affected by irritant-induced OA.
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| * 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.
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| * Now, more and more di-isocyanate free spray paints are available.
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| * 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.
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| ====2) Removal from exposure====
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| * 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.
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| * 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.
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| * 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.
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| ====3) Medical and pharmacological treatment====
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| * Anyone diagnosed with asthma will have to undergo medical treatment.
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| * This is complementary to either removing or reducing the patient’s exposure to the causal agents.
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| * Two types of medication can be used:
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| <ul>
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| <li><b>Relievers or bronchodilators</b></li>
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| {{main|Bronchodilator}}
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| Short-acting [[beta-agonist]]s 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 FEV<sup>1</sup>.
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| <li><b>Preventers</b></li>
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| Anti-inflammatory agents like [[corticosteroid]]s, LKTRA or mast cell stabilizers can be used depending on the severity of the case.
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| </ul>
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| ==Compensation issues==
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| * 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. <ref>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003443.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/7/5/969/ Medicolegal and compensation aspects of occupational asthma.] Dewitte JD, Chan-Yeung M, Malo J-L.</ref>
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| ==Related Chapters== | | ==Related Chapters== |
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| *[[Specific inhalation challenge]] | | *[[Specific inhalation challenge]] |
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist|2}}
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| [[Category:Disease]]
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| [[Category:Pulmonology]] | | [[Category:Pulmonology]] |
| [[Category:Asthma]]
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| [[Category:Occupational safety and health]]
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| [[Category:Up-To-Date]]
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| [[Category:Up-To-Date pulmonology]]
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| {{WikiDoc Help Menu}} | | {{WikiDoc Help Menu}} |
| {{WikiDoc Sources}} | | {{WikiDoc Sources}} |