ABSTRACT
Occupational asthma (OA) is suspected in a person when respiratory symptoms improve on days away from work or during holidays. The diagnosis needs objective confirmation as the history lacks sufficient specificity; objective tests confirm OA in a little over 50% of those with suggestive symptoms. Tests available include bronchial responsiveness either as single measurement while being exposed or changes that occur after the exposure is stopped, measurement of lung function before and after exposure or over time, or serial frequent measurements several times daily over a few weeks, and specific bronchial provocation tests. There has been a recent systematic review of the literature (1).
