These allergy symptoms may be present for months or years before shortness of breath and other breathing symptoms develop. For some people, wheezing at night is the only symptom. [merckmanuals.com]

The American College of Chest Physicians’ diagnostic criteria for the syndrome are presented in Table 5.16 Distinguishing between work-aggravated asthma and allergic occupational asthma is more of a challenge. [aafp.org]

Information and training should cover: which substances may present an occupational asthma risk; asthma symptoms and the likelihood that asthma (once developed) may be permanent; procedures for reporting symptoms and the need to report symptoms promptly [commerce.wa.gov.au]

Avoid exercise if symptoms are present before exercise. Slowly increase the intensity of workouts. [marshfieldclinic.org]

Sputum induction tests Sputum is a combination of saliva and mucus that is present in the lungs. During a sputum induction test, a clinician will take a sample of sputum from the person’s lungs. [medicalnewstoday.com]

• Inflammation

  Inflammation causes several reactions that restrict the airways and make it difficult to breathe. With occupational asthma, lung inflammation may be triggered by an allergic response to a substance, which usually develops over time. [mayoclinic.org]

  Asthma attacks are caused by: muscle spasms mucus buildup inflammation in your airways Occupational asthma can be further classified into several categories. [healthline.com]

  It is postulated that extensive denudation of the airway epithelium occurs, resulting in airway inflammation due to the loss of epithelium-derived relaxing factors, exposure of nerve endings leading to neurogenic inflammation, and nonspecific activation [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

  Treatment involves avoiding the trigger and, when that is not possible, using drugs to open the airways and reduce inflammation. Several other airway disorders are caused by inhaling irritating substances in the workplace. [merckmanuals.com]

  They will then send the sample to a laboratory for further testing to determine the cause of lung inflammation and the best treatments to pursue. Chest CT scan A chest CT scan takes 2D pictures of different chest cross-sections. [medicalnewstoday.com]

• Disability

  Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker [cairn.info]

  This means that many workers develop disabling symptoms in the afternoon on their way home, or later in the evening and may not relate them to exposure in the workplace. [commerce.wa.gov.au]

  However at all times there must be a balance between the risk an individual might face if working and their rights not to be discriminated against because of a disability, in this case asthma. [hsa.ie]

  Guidlines for the evaluation of impairment/disability in patients with asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis 1993; 147:1056–1061. Back to Top [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

  None of the included studies reported disability or sickness absence as an outcome. Open in table viewer Table 3. Employment/income Author Outcome Bernstein 2003 Removal from exposure group: 4/4 had a reduction in income. [cochranelibrary.com]

• Fatigue

  Common symptoms include: shortness of breath chest tightness wheezing coughing, especially during exercise, laughing, and at night fatigue anxiousness trouble talking Less common symptoms that should prompt immediate medical attention include: rapid breathing [healthline.com]

  When exposed to certain triggers, such as low humidity, fatigue, emotional stress and inhaled allergens, or changes in airway temperature from cold dry air, the airways contract or tighten and become swollen. [marshfieldclinic.org]

• Painter

  […] nickel Food production workers Milk powder, egg powder Forest workers, carpenters, cabinetmakers Wood dust Hairdressers Dyes Health care workers Latex and chemicals Pharmaceutical workers, bakers Drugs, enzymes Seafood processors Herring, snow crab Spray painters [mayoclinic.org]

  Farmers, painters, plastic and rubber workers, and cleaners (caretakers, window cleaners, chimney and road sweepers) are at greatest risk for developing asthma.3 Over the past several years there has been an increased awareness, and growing evidence that [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

• Laboratory Technician

  Healthcare workers: physicians (especially surgeons), dentists, nurses, dental hygienists, dental and medical students and laboratory technicians. [allergyasthmanetwork.org]

• Cough

  Occupational asthma may cause shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and coughing. People are tested for allergies to substances known to cause asthma. [merckmanuals.com]

  Asthma is a condition of the lungs where the airways to the lung narrow and cause symptoms of coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. [commerce.wa.gov.au]

  OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA Do you have wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath at work? If so, you could have occupational asthma. Is your asthma caused by your work? The answer to this question may be very difficult. [michiganasthmaandallergy.com]

  If you have adult asthma you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough. [marshfieldclinic.org]

  Symptoms Occupational asthma signs and symptoms may include: Wheezing, sometimes just at night Coughing Shortness of breath Chest tightness Other possible signs and symptoms may include: Runny nose Nasal congestion Eye irritation and tearing Occupational [mayoclinic.org]

• Rhinitis

  In patients whose OA is caused by HMW agents, rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis often precedes the onset of asthma symptoms by 1 year or more. In contrast, IrIA or RADS has a characteristically distinct presentation. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

  Allergic occupational asthma can be suspected if the history is consistent with the onset of symptoms after the worker began work; if the person manifests other allergic symptoms, such as rhinitis and conjunctivitis; and if an agent known to give rise [aafp.org]

• Sneezing

  Sometimes people show signs of allergy to dust at work, with symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. These allergy symptoms may be present for months or years before shortness of breath and other breathing symptoms develop. [merckmanuals.com]

• Respiratory Disorders

  disorders.4 The use of spray products seemed to impart a higher risk than other types of cleaners. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

• Muscle Spasm

  Asthma attacks are caused by: muscle spasms mucus buildup inflammation in your airways Occupational asthma can be further classified into several categories. [healthline.com]

• Suggestibility

  When the airways narrow, the rate slows significantly, suggesting occupational asthma. Industries using substances that can cause asthma must have dust and vapor control measures, but sometimes eliminating the dusts and vapors may be impossible. [merckmanuals.com]

  Genetics, pollution and modern hygiene standards have been suggested as causes, but there's not currently enough evidence to know if any of these do cause asthma. Who's at risk A number of things can increase your chances of getting asthma. [nhs.uk]

  He or she may suggest pulmonary function testing. See your work supervisor for details about potential hazards in your work environment. Have the tests and evaluation required to prove the suspected occupational asthma and its cause. [michiganasthmaandallergy.com]

  When the Risk Assessment suggests there is the potential for an employee to develop asthma because of workplace exposure, then usually health surveillance is required. [hsa.ie]

  Your provider can suggest how to discuss a diagnosis with your employer. They will offer ways to prevent further exposure and damage from occupational asthma. A note from Cleveland Clinic Occupational asthma can be life-threatening. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

The best treatment is to avoid exposure to latex, thereby avoiding an asthma flare. [allergyasthmanetwork.org]

Medical treatments Medications to treat asthma can be broken into short-term and long-term treatments. [healthline.com]

These treatments enlarge the passageways to the lungs. Both treatments are examples of bronchodilators that can control immediate distress by making it easier for air to come into and out of the lungs. [medicalnewstoday.com]

Otherwise, treatment for occupational asthma generally includes taking medications to reduce symptoms. If you already have asthma, sometimes treatment can help it from becoming worse in the workplace. [mayoclinic.org]

Adequate treatment of asthma symptoms does not replace the need for avoiding the offending agent. [aafp.org]

When asthma occurs as a result of exposure to airborne substances in workplaces, it can be divided into two categories: The term 'occupational asthma' should be confined to the hypersensitivity syndrome, which has a very different course and prognosis [commerce.wa.gov.au]

Outlook / Prognosis What is the outlook for someone with occupational asthma? With treatment, many people live productive lives with occupational asthma. The most challenging part of work-related asthma can be reducing your exposure to irritants. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Although there are still many controversies regarding the diagnosis, pathophysiology, prognosis, and appropriate compensation for patients with OA, prompt recognition, diagnosis, and removal from the work environment are necessary to ensure the best possible [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

A thorough history can elucidate the work relation and etiology. [aafp.org]

While polyvinyl chloride (PVC) appeared to be the causal agent in this case, the possible role of other etiological agents is also discussed. [archbronconeumol.org]

Another type of irritant‐induced occupational asthma might be caused by chronic low‐ to moderate‐level irritant exposures, but additional research is needed to clarify this etiology (Dumas 2016). [cochranelibrary.com]

Analysis performed by the American Lung Association Epidemiology and Statistics Unit using SPSS software. Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Occupational Asthma. [lung.org]

Back to Top Pathophysiology Like childhood asthma, OA is the result of interactions between multiple environmental and genetic factors. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

The primary underlying pathophysiologic process in all forms of asthma is airway inflammation, and the first line of treatment should be anti-inflammatory medication. [aafp.org]

Download Our Free “Understanding Anaphylaxis” Guide How do you prevent occupational asthma due to latex? It is important to identify occupational asthma due to latex in its early stages. [allergyasthmanetwork.org]

Prevention The best way to prevent occupational asthma is to control exposure to chemicals and other substances that that workers may be sensitive to or that are irritating. [mayoclinic.org]

They can help you determine the cause and find ways to help you prevent it. Your provider can suggest how to discuss a diagnosis with your employer. They will offer ways to prevent further exposure and damage from occupational asthma. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

It is deemed to be secondary prevention, (by detecting adverse effects early rather than total prevention) and not as effective as the primary prevention measures outlined above. [hsa.ie]

Keep reading to learn why occupational asthma develops, who’s at risk, and what can be done to prevent it. Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in your airways. Asthma can have many underlying causes. [healthline.com]