Gianna Moscato1, Eugenia Galdi. 1. Allergy and Immunology Unit, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Institute of Care and Research, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Italy. gmoscato@fsm.it
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hairdressers have an increased prevalence of respiratory diseases and are at high risk of occupational asthma. In this paper we aim to review the most recent findings in respiratory diseases related to the occupation of hairdressing to provide a background for management and prevention. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have described several cases of occupational asthma and occupational rhinitis in hairdressers. Persulphate salts are the major causal agents. Sensitization to persulphate salts seems more related to an individual hypersusceptibility than to environmental factors. An underlying immunologic mechanism is strongly suggested but not definitively demonstrated. The diagnosis of persulphate asthma is based on the specific challenge, for which standardized methods have been described. Some data show the presence of respiratory disorders in an early stage in apprentices and demonstrate that after diagnosis a proportion of hairdressers with occupational asthma remain symptomatic despite cessation of exposure. SUMMARY: Careful medical surveillance is recommended for hairdressers and for hairdressing apprentices. Further studies are needed to evaluate the mechanism of persulphate asthma and to determine the relative role of individual risk factors compared with environmental factors in the development of the disease.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hairdressers have an increased prevalence of respiratory diseases and are at high risk of occupational asthma. In this paper we aim to review the most recent findings in respiratory diseases related to the occupation of hairdressing to provide a background for management and prevention. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have described several cases of occupational asthma and occupational rhinitis in hairdressers. Persulphate salts are the major causal agents. Sensitization to persulphate salts seems more related to an individual hypersusceptibility than to environmental factors. An underlying immunologic mechanism is strongly suggested but not definitively demonstrated. The diagnosis of persulphateasthma is based on the specific challenge, for which standardized methods have been described. Some data show the presence of respiratory disorders in an early stage in apprentices and demonstrate that after diagnosis a proportion of hairdressers with occupational asthma remain symptomatic despite cessation of exposure. SUMMARY: Careful medical surveillance is recommended for hairdressers and for hairdressing apprentices. Further studies are needed to evaluate the mechanism of persulphateasthma and to determine the relative role of individual risk factors compared with environmental factors in the development of the disease.
Authors: Lena S Jönsson; Karin Broberg; Karin Paulsson; Kerstin Kronholm Diab; Jørn Nielsen Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2009-03-31 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: M H Foss-Skiftesvik; L Winther; H F Mosbech; P S Skov; M S Opstrup; H Søsted; C Zachariae; J D Johansen; C R Johnsen Journal: Clin Transl Allergy Date: 2016-07-21 Impact factor: 5.871