BACKGROUND: Occupational diseases involving the immune system are considered to be occupational allergic diseases (OAD); 15% of occupational diseases are allergic. The social consequences of OAD are significant for both workers and employers. OBJECTIVES: To describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with OAD and their social outcomes. METHODS: Descriptive and retrospective study of the medical records of patients diagnosed with OAD cared at the occupational allergy clinic of a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients exhibited OAD, with age 21 to 89 years old; 52% were male. Atopic antecedents were described for 35% of patients. Most patients worked in the chemical industry (17%), cleaning (15%), construction (11%) and health care (8%). Occupational rhinitis was found in 26% of the patients, work-related asthma in 18%, asthma and rhinitis in 25%, and allergic contact dermatitis in 13%. In regard to the social outcomes, 36 (50%) workers remained in their jobs, 19 (26%) changed function, 7 (10%) changed occupation, 7 (10%) were fired and 3 (4%) retired. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, OAD prevailed among males and within the economically active age; cases of occupational rhinitis were the most frequent. Half of the employees remained in the same job position even after diagnosis.
BACKGROUND: Occupational diseases involving the immune system are considered to be occupational allergic diseases (OAD); 15% of occupational diseases are allergic. The social consequences of OAD are significant for both workers and employers. OBJECTIVES: To describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with OAD and their social outcomes. METHODS: Descriptive and retrospective study of the medical records of patients diagnosed with OAD cared at the occupational allergy clinic of a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients exhibited OAD, with age 21 to 89 years old; 52% were male. Atopic antecedents were described for 35% of patients. Most patients worked in the chemical industry (17%), cleaning (15%), construction (11%) and health care (8%). Occupational rhinitis was found in 26% of the patients, work-related asthma in 18%, asthma and rhinitis in 25%, and allergic contact dermatitis in 13%. In regard to the social outcomes, 36 (50%) workers remained in their jobs, 19 (26%) changed function, 7 (10%) changed occupation, 7 (10%) were fired and 3 (4%) retired. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, OAD prevailed among males and within the economically active age; cases of occupational rhinitis were the most frequent. Half of the employees remained in the same job position even after diagnosis.
Entities:
Keywords:
allergy and immunology; asthma, occupational; dermatitis, occupational; rhinitis, allergic
Authors: Fernanda Moura D'Almeida Miranda; Kátia Sheylla Malta Purim; Leila Maria Mansano Sarquis; Ana Claudia Athanasio Shwetz; Letícia Schlichting Delatorre; Rosangela Maria Saalfeld Journal: Rev Bras Med Trab Date: 2020-04-24