OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of occupational asthma generally identical to the symptoms of an asthma attack, such as:

• Episodes of wheezing, often at night
• Coughing
• Prolonged shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Rhinorrhea (runny nose)
• Airway obstruction
• Watery eyes, and inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis)

These symptoms may get worse during exposure to the irritants at work and may also aggravate depending on what substances the person is exposed to at work; hence, the symptoms may:

• Recur and aggravate each time the person is exposed to the irritants at work
• Occur inside and outside of the workplace
• Either start after continued exposure to the trigger or may onset immediately after exposure to the trigger
• Have a long-standing effect, causing asthma attacks even when the exposure to the trigger is stopped

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing occupational asthma requires careful and detailed medical history and medical screening to determine the connection of the symptoms to exposure at work. The doctor may also conduct tests comparable to the tests administered in diagnosing other types of asthma. Such tests are:

• Spirometry: Test to measure the amount of air that a person inhales and exhales
• Peak flow measurement: Test to measure how rapid air is exhaled off the lungs when you exhale briskly after fully inhaling
• Allergy skin test: Test to detect potential allergens
• Challenge test: test to validate possible asthma triggers and its effects on the lung function

TREATMENT

Avoiding or reducing exposure to irritants is the most vital intervention in treating occupational asthma. In some cases, however, a person with occupational asthma may be overly reactive to irritants even in little amounts. Particular medications to curtail against asthma attacks and or to alleviate the symptoms may be prescribed. The prescribed medicine will rely upon the severity of asthma and the irritant that induces asthma. Doctors may prescribe the following:

For Long-term control, the patient may be specified with the following types of medication:

• Inhaled corticosteroid is taken with long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) to lessen airway inflammation
• Leukotriene modifiers(either pill or liquid) to reduce airway inflammation and ease muscles around the airways
• Inhalers containing corticosteroids and LABA (combination inhaler) to improve lung function and avoid the aggravation

For short-term relief:

• Using rescue medication like short-action beta-agonists to deliver fast relief to inflamed airways
• Oral and intravenous corticosteroids