Occupational airways disease

Airway diseases can be either caused or made worse by workplace exposures; early recognition of occupational disease is crucial to achieving a successful outcome for the patient. Population research estimates that 10–15% of adult asthma presentations (either new cases or exacerbations of existing disease) can be attributed to a work exposure. Work-exacerbated and occupational asthma have different causal pathways and therefore require different approaches by healthcare professionals in partnership with patients, and their employers.