Asthma caused by irritant agents in workplace is often severe

Published: March 4, 2022

Irritant occupational exposures, such as acids, bases, or oxidizing agents, can lead to the development of asthma. The prognosis of this type of irritant-induced asthma is still poorly known, and only a few papers have addressed the outcome of these patients.

Recently, an article by Jussi Lantto and his colleagues was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. The article describes the clinical picture of irritant-induced asthma at the time point when the diagnosis was verified. Sixty-nine patients were included in the study, and their results were compared with those of 158 other patients whose asthma was caused by sensitizing agents in the workplace.

The patients who were diagnosed with irritant-induced asthma showed poorer asthma outcomes than other patients of the study. They used more extensive medication and had more frequent asthma attacks and respiratory symptoms than their counterparts. The main results of the study emphasize the importance of prevention and careful surveillance of the patients after the diagnosis of irritant-induced asthma.  

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice is an official journal of the AAAAI, focusing on practical information for the practicing clinician.

Full Artcile