[Work-related asthma--diagnostics and follow-up].
Approximately 10-15% of all cases of asthma occurring in adults can be ascribed to exposure at work. Work-related asthma (WRA) includes cases that represent an exacerbation of pre-existing asthma as well as occupational asthma where exposure at work is the cause of the disease. Somewhat more than 350 different sources of exposure are known to be causes of allergic WRA. The purpose of this article is to present an updated review of diagnostics and follow-up of WRA. In addition to our own searches in PubMed and comprehensive clinical experience with this patient group, the article is based on a number of literature reviews undertaken internationally. Early diagnosis requires attention to occupational asthma and rapid initiation of diagnostics, in which primary doctors play a key role. Further examination requires resources that are available only in departments with special competence in this field. Awareness of the condition and an early and correct diagnosis that leads to cessation of exposure have been shown to improve the patients' prognosis. All doctors who have responsibility for asthma patients need to be aware of this condition and provide adequate diagnostics, so that interventions to halt the exposure can be undertaken. Cooperation between GPs, employers, enterprise health services and specialists are required to achieve this.