Work-related asthma: Is it an occupational asthma?

Work-aggravated asthma is a common disease. Like occupational asthma, it reflects inadequate work conditions and requires preventive measures. Both work-aggravated asthma and occupational asthma share the same severe socioeconomic outcomes. On an individual level, however, efforts should be made to distinguish work-aggravated asthma from occupational asthma, for medicolegal reasons but also for medical reasons. Whereas complete avoidance of exposure is the best treatment for occupational asthma, it seems less imperious for work-aggravated asthma. Specific inhalation challenge is the best diagnostic tool to differentiate occupational asthma from work-aggravated asthma, but this test is available in only a few specialized centres. Analysis of induced sputum together with peak expiratory flow monitoring is an interesting alternative. (c) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.