title: High occurrence of rhinitis symptoms in hairdressing apprentices.
abstract: Little is known about the occurrence of respiratory symptoms among hairdressing apprentices during their training. Therefore, in this study, we examined whether hairdressing apprentices are at increased risk of rhinitis and asthma symptoms when compared with other young adults from the general population.
  
  
  
  A questionnaire was completed by 504 hairdressing apprentices and 1400 control participants from the general population with a similar age, gender, and geographic distribution.
  
  
  
  The 1-year prevalence of rhinitis symptoms was higher in hairdressing apprentices than in controls (58.1% vs 46.6%; odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.98), and the prevalence was higher among hairdressing apprentices in the last years of training compared with apprentices in the first year of training (62.4% vs 41.8%, p = 0.003). Current smoking was more common in hairdressing apprentices (28.4% vs 17.2%, p < 0.001). Asthma symptoms were equally common in the 2 groups; however, hairdressing apprentices had a later age of onset of wheezing than did the controls (18 years vs 14 years, p < 0.00001) and a decreased risk of wheezing (odds ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.54 to 0.95) after adjusting for smoking, education level, and degree of rurality. Bleaching products were the most frequently reported cause of rhinitis and asthma symptoms in hairdressing apprentices.
  
  
  
  Hairdressing apprentices seem to have an increased risk of occupational rhinitis, and bleaching products are the main cause of respiratory symptoms. In addition, our findings suggest that a healthy worker effect exists in relation to asthma among hairdressing apprentices.
authors: National Allergy Research Centre, Department of Dermato-Allergology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Research Centre for Hairdressers and Beauticians, Department of Dermato-Allergology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Majken H
authors: MH
authors: Foss-Skiftesvik
authors: Allergy Clinic, Department of Dermato-Allergology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Lone
authors: L
authors: Winther
authors: Allergy Clinic, Department of Dermato-Allergology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Claus R
authors: CR
authors: Johnsen
authors: Research Centre for Hairdressers and Beauticians, Department of Dermato-Allergology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Søsted
authors: Allergy Clinic, Department of Dermato-Allergology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Holger F
authors: HF
authors: Mosbech
authors: Department of Dermato-Allergology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Claus
authors: C
authors: Zachariae
authors: National Allergy Research Centre, Department of Dermato-Allergology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Jeanne D
authors: JD
authors: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006203:Hair Preparations
keywords: hairdressers; hairdressers apprentices; occupational asthma; occupational rhinitis; rhinitis symptoms; self-reported respiratory symptoms; wheeze