We report a case of occupational asthma due to hidden casein, contained in a dermatological powder. A 44 year old nurse reported the recent onset of rhinitis and asthma, clearly related to the work environment. Skin tests for food allergens revealed a positivity for milk proteins. The source of dispersed milk proteins in the work environment was found to be a dermatological formulation of an in...

Asthma: Allergic asthma is an episodic wheezing illness often beginning before the age of 20. It occurs in patients from families with other IgE mediated illnesses such as allergic rhinitis and eczema. Unless specific aggravating factors are present all the time, the patient enjoys normal breathing between attacks. A careful history identifies important etiologic factors. A history of seasonal ...

Sensitization of the respiratory tract by chemicals resulting in rhinitis and asthma is an important occupational health issue. Occupational asthma is associated with significant morbidity and can be fatal. Tests for the identification and characterization of chemicals with the potential to cause sensitization of the respiratory tract are lacking. In spite of sustained interest there are no val...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Hairdressers have an increased prevalence of respiratory diseases and are at high risk of occupational asthma. In this paper we aim to review the most recent findings in respiratory diseases related to the occupation of hairdressing to provide a background for management and prevention. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have described several cases of occupational asthma and oc...

Methods The study was carried out on the 256 workers exposed to dust at the rubber factory. 16 workers with moderate exposure, 240 Workers with high exposure, spirometry (FVC, FEV1) were performed. Information on occupational history, duration of exposure, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, respiratory symptoms (breathlessness, cough and rhinitis) and self reported symptoms with disease were ...

We report a survey of the number of persons handling laboratory animals in the UK in 1999-2000. This estimate has allowed us to calculate annual incidence rates of allergic asthma and rhinitis attributable to laboratory animals, insects, and birds using numerators derived from cases reported to a national surveillance scheme (SWORD). The number of exposed employees has almost halved since the e...

Occupational asthma (OA) is the most common work-related respiratory disease. Case identification still remains underperformed. The present survey aimed at investigating the awareness about OA among Italian allergists. 538 Italian Allergists completed a web anonymous questionnaire concerning: patient profile, occupational history, disease features, diagnostic work-up, causal agents, management ...