title: Differential diagnosis of occupational asthma.
abstract: Confidently establishing the diagnosis of occupational asthma (OA) is a complicated undertaking, because it requires that the patient's asthma symptoms are caused exclusively (or at least in large part) by occupational exposures. Asthma is a common disease, and the differential diagnosis of asthma is a frequently discussed subject that includes common and uncommon disorders. This article presents a broad characterization of OA, including the elements necessary to establish a diagnosis. Differential diagnosis also is discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Medicine, Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center, Springbrook Professional Center, Suite 200, 4540 Sand Point Way, North East, Seattle, WA 98105-3941, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tilles
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jerath-Tatum
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors