lung and airway disorders
Work Related Asthma
Introduction
Work-related asthma is a reversible narrowing of the airways caused by inhaling particles or vapors in the workplace, which act as irritants or cause an allergic reaction. Work-related asthma may cause shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and coughing. The key to diagnosis is a careful occupational and environmental exposure history. Treatment involves avoiding the trigger and, when that is not possible, using medications to open the airways and reduce inflammation. (See also Overview of Environmental and Occupational Lung Disease and Approximately 15 percent of adult-onset asthma is attributed to occupational exposure. Work-related asthma should be suspected in all adults with asthma, especially those with new-onset or worsening asthma. Workplaces commonly contain irritants and allergens (substances that produce an allergic reaction) that can cause or exacerbate asthma. Often identifying the specific substance (for example, a cleaning or hair care product) is challenging and usually unnecessary. However, it is important to distinguish work-related asthma from other airway disorders that are related to the workplace, such as upper airway irritation, Stridor , Workplace-related asthma can continue to cause symptoms even after exposure to the irritant or allergen has stopped. Work-related asthma can take various forms: Sensitizer-induced occupational asthma Irritant exposure and reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) Work-exacerbated asthma 