Occupational asthma
Abstract
Occupational asthma is an important occupational respiratory disorder, both in terms of morbidity, disability and in the total number of cases. The two types of occupational asthma are classified on the basis of their temporal relationship to onset. Occupational asthma with latency reflects allergic occupational asthma and is a condition characterized by a preceding latent period of workplace exposure during which allergic sensitization to a material present at the work site occurs. It is characterized biochemically by immunologic alterations and physiologically by variable and work-related airflow limitation with the presence of both specific and nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness. In contrast, occupational asthma without latency is an asthmatic condition that develops suddenly and without a preceding latent period, as epitomized by the reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS). RADS is distinguished physiologically by chronic, persistent nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness and usually occurs after a single brief high-level exposure to an irritant gas, vapor of fume; new information suggests that a more prolonged irritant exposure, in certain susceptible persons with a pre-existing allergic predisposition, can also l...Continue Reading
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