Prevalence of allergic symptoms and occupational allergic diseases among veterinary clinic workers

Purpose: Veterinary clinic workers are frequently exposed to various animal allergens, increasing the possibility of occupational allergy. However, allergic symptoms in this group have not been studied extensively. We aim to investigate the prevalence of allergic symptoms and especially occupational allergic diseases in veterinary clinic workers. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted. The questionnaire for allergic symptoms was sent to the veterinary clinic workers in the Gyeongsangnam-do region and was collected for statistical analysis. Occupational asthma, rhinitis, or dermatitis were defined as the new onset or worsening of each symptom at work and improvement in the condition while away from the work. Results: Ninety-five veterinary clinic workers participated in this study; 33.7% were male and their mean age was 33.7 years. Fifty-two subjects (54.7%) experienced conjunctivitis symptoms along with rhinitis symptoms. Fifty-seven subjects (60.0%) experienced rhinitis symptoms, but not cold or flu, and 40% of the subjects were suspected of having occupational rhinitis. Forty subjects reported that they had lower respiratory symptoms, while 11 (11.6%) and 4 subjects (4.2%) had asthma and occupational asthma, respectively. Twenty-two subjects with respiratory symptoms complained of symptom worsening upon contact with animals, especially cats. Of 95 subjects, 31 had skin itching, 11 reported skin rash, and 6 had occupational dermatitis. There was no significant difference in the type of work performed by the study participants. Conclusion: This study is the first to analyze the prevalence of allergic symptoms in veterinary clinic workers in Korea. The data can be employed for the prevention of occupational allergic diseases in veterinary clinic workers and can provide a basis for further studies.