Can Phenols cause RADS
Yesterday I saw another patient who I feel has RADS not asthma secondary to exposure to a 'oligomeric sulfur containing phenol'. I don't know about oligomeric but correct me -phenols can cause RADS, can't they?
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I think irritant induced asthma (or RADS as it used to be called) can occur with any large irritant exposure. I dont think that it is necessary to find other cases with the same agent to make the diagnosis. The important features in the diagnosis are;
No prior asthma
Asthmatic symptoms within 24 hours of an acute irritant exposure
Astham persisting for at least 3 months afterwards
No reactions to low levels of the same substance (this would imply that sensitisation had occurred)
Many would require increased non-specific reactivity at 3 months, but similar symptoms and continuing asthma occur in individuals where the non-specific reactivity is within normal limits.
In practice the asthma usually starts within minutes of the exposure, and is often accompanied by eye, nose and throat symptoms.
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