title: Clinical assessment of occupational asthma and its differential diagnosis.
abstract: Occupational asthma (OA) is defined as asthma caused by sources and conditions attributable to a particular occupational environment and not to stimuli encountered outside the workplace. Two types of OA are distinguished based on their appearance after a latency period or not. The most frequent type appears after a latency period leading to sensitization; the clinical assessment of this type of OA is the topic of this review. The differential diagnosis of OA is also reviewed, including work-exacerbated asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, hyperventilation syndrome, vocal cord dysfunction, bronchiolitis, and other causes of dyspnea or cough.
authors: Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, 5400 Boul Gouin Ouest, Montréal, QC, Canada. andre.cartier@umontreal.ca
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Cartier
authors: Joaquin
authors: J
authors: Sastre
mesh_terms: D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013183:Sputum; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E