Work-related asthma affects as many as 25% of all people with asthma.
Symptoms of Work-Related Asthma
The symptoms of work-related asthma are identical to symptoms of asthma from other causes. The relationship of these symptoms, however, is directly related to work exposures.People with work-related asthma may notice that their symptoms are absent or mild when away from work, such as on the weekends, holidays or vacations. Symptoms may reappear upon the return to work and worsen over the course of the workweek.
Knowing for sure that work exposures worsen or cause asthma may be difficult to prove. Often, a person has a suspicion that this is the case. If the following four statements are true, work-related asthma may be present:
- Changes to exposures at work occurred just prior to the start or worsening of symptoms.
- Unusual exposures occurred within 24 hours prior to the start or worsening of symptoms.
- Asthma symptoms are less severe on weekends, holidays or vacation.
- There are also symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergies) at work.
Tests for Work-Related Asthma
Showing that a person actually has asthma is, of course, crucial to the diagnosis of work-related asthma, but it doesn’t prove that triggers at work are related to the asthma. Therefore, lung function testing while a person is at work can detect drops in lung function that may suggest the diagnosis of work-related asthma.This is most often performed using peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), using a peak flow meter. To be correctly done, PEFRs are measures at least four times a day for four weeks to pick up changes in lung function caused by work triggers, including one week off of work to show that these changes don’t occur away from work.
Inhalation challenges, performed by having a person breathe the trigger in question and then testing lung function with spirometry, are potentially dangerous and are only performed by specialized research centers.
Some causes of work-related asthma are allergic in nature, and allergy testing can be performed for some of these triggers. Most often, this type of testing may rule out work-related asthma, but it may not be able to absolutely make the diagnosis.
For example, consider the animal proteins -- a common allergy trigger. If a veterinarian is not allergic to animal proteins, then the person could not be diagnosed with work-related asthma. But even if the person does have allergic antibodies to certain animal proteins, that fact is not enough to make a firm diagnosis of work-related asthma.
Learn more about work-related asthma, including common jobs that lead to this disease and what treatments are recommended.
Sources:
Dykewicz MS. Occupational Asthma: Current Concepts in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;123:519-28.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.
