Open AccessBronchial asthma of occupational origin: a review
Author(s) -
Stuart M. Brooks
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1795-990X
pISSN - 0355-3140
DOI - 10.5271/sjweh.2790
Subject(s) - asthma , occupational asthma , disease , medicine , occupational disease , identification (biology) , hygiene hypothesis , occupational hygiene , occupational exposure , intensive care medicine , environmental health , immunology , occupational safety and health , pathology , biology , botany
There are immediate benefits when one can establish the diagnosis of occupationally induced asthma. It is a man-made disease and is thus reversible. Diagnosis depends on knowledge of the source and types of exposure which can be correlated with the clinical, physiological and immunologic patterns of affected workers. The discovery of one case can often lead more readily to recognition of others. Individuals with asthma of an occupational origin should be removed from work. Equally as important is the initiation of proper industrial hygiene procedures which would improve the occupational environment and periodic medical surveillance of workers for the identification of early disease or individuals with few or no symptoms.