Doctors to look for work-related factors in asthma diagnoses

摘要

With an estimated one in six cases of asthma in people of working age either caused or aggravated by work-related factors doctors are being urged to explore the possible occupational causes of the condition when diagnosing patients.New guidance from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and funded by NHS Plus advises hospital doctors to question patients with respiratory problems about their job, the materials they work with, and whether their symptoms improve when they are away from work. They also need to be aware of those that carry particular risks, such as laboratory workers, and workers in the chemical industry.Doctors are also being urged to not solely rely on the patient's history but to conduct tests at work and away from work, and skin-prick tests for allergy to substances that could potentially be causing the illness.