Engelsk titel: Work-related asthma - diagnostics and follow-up
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Författare:
Aasen, Tor Olav Brövig
;
Kongerud, Johny
Email: tor.olav.brovig.aasen@helse-bergen.no
Språk: Nor
Antal referenser: 34
Dokumenttyp:
Översikt
UI-nummer: 14117517
Sammanfattning
BACKGROUND Approximately 10 - 15 % of all cases of asthma occurring in adults can be ascribed to exposure at work. Work-related asthma (WRA) includes cases that
represent an exacerbation of pre-existing asthma as well as occupational asthma where exposure at work is the cause of the disease. Somewhat more than 350 different
sources of exposure are known to be causes of allergic WRA. The purpose of this article is to present an updated review of diagnostics and follow-up of WRA.
MATERIAL In addition to our own searches in PubMed and comprehensive clinical experience with this patient group, the article is based on a number of literature reviews
undertaken internationally.
RESULTS Early diagnosis requires attention to occupational asthma and rapid initiation of diagnostics, in which primary doctors play a key role. Further examination requires
resources that are available only in departments with special competence in this field. Awareness of the condition and an early and correct diagnosis that leads to cessation of
exposure have been shown to improve the patients’ prognosis.
INTERPRETATION All doctors who have responsibility for asthma patients need to be aware of this condition and provide adequate diagnostics, so that interventions to halt the
exposure can be undertaken. Cooperation between GPs, employers, enterprise health services and specialists are required to achieve this.