Asthma Due to Work 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 arise due to spasms of the muscles lining the airways, making the airways become very narrow.
Cause
Many materials (allergens, the cause of the symptom) in the workplace that can cause asthma because of work. The most common is a protein molecule (wood dust, grain dust, animal dander, fungal particles) or other chemicals (particularly diisocyanate). Exact figures on the incidence of asthma because the work is unknown, but thought to be about 2-20% of asthma in industrialized countries is asthma because of work.
The workers who are at high risk of developing asthma because of work are:
- Workers at the plant detergent
- Workers in plant medicine
- Woodworker
- Laboratory workers
- Workers transporting wheat
- Mill workers
- Workers combustion
- Metal workers
- Plastic Workers
Symptom
Symptoms usually occur shortly after exposure to the allergen and often diminish or disappear when the patient leaves his workplace. Symptoms often worsen during weekdays and improved on weekends or holidays. Some new patients experiencing symptoms within 12 hours after exposure to the allergen.
Symptoms include:
- Out of breath
- Asthma
- Cough
- Feel tightness in the chest
Diagnosis
In the travel history of the disease, patients usually feel symptoms worsen if exposed to certain allergens in the environment in which they work. On examination with a stethoscope will hear a wheezing (asthma, wheezing).
Other tests are commonly performed:
- Pulmonary function tests
- Measurement of peak expiratory flow rate before and after work
- Chest X-rays
- Blood count
- Bronchial provocation tests (to gauge reaction to the suspected allergen)
- Blood tests to find specific antibodies
Treatment
The same treatment as other types of asthma, which is given bronchodilators (drugs that open the airways), either in the form of an inhaler (eg, albuterol) or in tablet form (eg theophylline). For severe attacks, can be given corticosteroids (such as prednisone) by mouth (orally) in the short term. For long-term handling, better given in the form of inhaled corticosteroid.
Prevention
Industries that use substances that can cause asthma, should control dust and air, because to eliminate it is an impossible thing. Workers with severe asthma, if possible, should replace the job because of the exposure that will continually make asthma gain weight and be settled. If allergens / cause has been unknown, to prevent the occurrence of symptoms, the patient should avoid the allergen.
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