An approach to the diagnosis of occupational asthma.
BACKGROUND
Occupational Asthma (OA) is a common disorder attributable to causes and conditions found in the workplace. Occupational asthma may have an immunologic or nonimmunologic basis and may be caused by several hundred agents. A number of factors may increase the risk of developing OA including genetic, industrial, meteorologic, social, and medical factors.


METHODS
The diagnosis is best made by fulfilling well-defined clinical criteria by way of a meticulous and oftentimes arduous evaluation. Pre-existing asthma and allergy, along with other special variants of asthma and unrelated pulmonary disorders which can masquerade as asthma, must be ruled out.


CONCLUSIONS
Convincing physiologic evidence that demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship must be obtained before a definitive diagnosis of work-related asthma is made.
Mihalas
L S
LS
University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology