[Current data of occupational asthma].

Abstract

The problem of occupational asthma is in state of change as evidenced by the official reports: The official Journal of the 23 January 1982 contains important alterations in the lists of occupational asthma, changing some and creating others, as with table 66 in which numerous occupational allergies are listed. The authors discuss current diagnostic methods in which realistic provocation tests play an important part; current causes are considered and are duly allocated between natural animal or vegetable products or chemicals produced by industry. The authors strive to define which aetiologies are declining and which remain every day problems. Occupational asthma should be treated at source though the offending agent is not always apparent. The mechanism may be allergic, or often non allergic histamine-liberation or other pharmacodynamic mechanisms. Finally, the understanding of occupational asthmas throws light on the mechanism of asthma itself.