Abstract
Objective:
to describe the follow-up evaluation of sensitized workers who prolonged their occupational exposure to laboratory animals.
Methods:
after a follow-up period of approximately 7 years, we contacted all individuals with occupational allergic sensitization detected in a previous study. A questionnaire was employed to assess present occupational status, relationship between allergy and decision on quitting job or exposure, and to assess asthma, wheezing, rhinitis, skin symptoms, and nocturnal dyspnea.
Results:
of the 74 individuals with occupational sensitization, 45 volunteers completed the questionnaire at the second evaluation and 37 were still exposed. By comparing the data from the first evaluation with data from the current evaluation, we observed an increase in asthma frequency. In the first evaluation, among all sensitized subjects (n=74), 27.0% answered yes to both questions “Do you have or have you ever had asthma?” and “Was the asthma diagnosed by a doctor?” In the second evaluation, 7 years later, among the 37 subjects who were still exposed, 51.3% answered yes to these questions (OR: 2.80; 95%CI: 1.23-6.38; p=0.013). There was no change in the frequency of positive responses to the other questions.
Conclusion:
data demonstrate increasing frequency of asthma among workers with occupational sensitization who prolong exposure to laboratory animal.
Keywords:
asthma; diagnosis; occupational allergies; work; occupational health