Which factors increase the probability of a favourable prognosis after a diagnosis of occupational asthma?

The likelihood of improvement or resolution of symptoms or of preventing deterioration is greater in workers who have shorter duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis.

This statement is in the "Management of a worker with occupational asthma" section of evidence linked statements

Evidence

ChanYeung M, Lam S, Koener S , Clinical features and natural history of occupational asthma due to western red Cedar (Thuja plicata) , Am J Med , 1982 ; 72 : 411-415

Park HS, Nahm DH , Prognostic factors for toluene di-isocyanate-induced occupational asthma after removal from exposure , Clin Exp Allergy , 1997 ; 27 : 1145-1150

Piirila PL, Nordman H, Keskinen HM et al , Long-term follow-up of hexamethylene di-isocyanate-diphenylmethane di-isocyanate-, and toluene di-isocyanate-induced asthma , Am J Respir Crit Care Med , 2000 ; 162 : 516-522

Pisati G, Baruffini A, Zedda S , Toluene Di-isocyanate Induced Asthma: Outcome According To Persistence Or Cessation Of Exposure , Br J Ind Med , 1993 ; 50 : 60-64

Rosenberg N, Garnier R, Rousselin X et al , Clinical and socio-professional fate of isocyanate-induced asthma , Clin Allergy , 1987 ; 17 : 55-61

Ross DJ, Mcdonald JC , Health and employment after a diagnosis of occupational asthma: a descriptive study , Occup Med (London) , 1998 ; 48 : 219-225

Tarlo SM, Banks D, Liss G et al , Outcome determinants for isocyanate induced occupational asthma among compensation claimants , Occup Environ Med , 1997 ; 54 : 756-761

Tarlo SM, Liss G, Corey P et al , A workers' compensation claim population for occupational asthma. Comparison of subgroups , Chest , 1995 ; 107 : 634-641

Principal reccomendations

This statement supports the following principal reccomendations

View the principal reccomendations

Employers and their health and safety personnel should assess exposure in the workplace and enquire of relevant symptoms among the workforce when any one employee develops confirmed occupational rhinitis or occupational asthma and identify opportunities to institute remedial measures to protect other workers.

Employers and their health and safety personnel should ensure that measures are taken to ensure that workers diagnosed as having of occupational asthma avoid further exposure to its cause in the workplace.

Employers and their health and safety personnel should inform workers about any causes of occupational asthma in the workplace and the need to report any relevant symptoms as soon as they develop.

Employers and their health and safety personnel should provide regular health surveillance to workers where a risk of occupational asthma is identified. Surveillance should include a respiratory questionnaire enquiring about work-related upper and lower respiratory symptoms, with additional functional and immunological tests, where appropriate.

Physicians treating patients with occupational asthma should follow published clinical guidelines for the pharmacological management of patients with asthma in conjunction with recommendations to avoid exposure to the causative agent.