The most characteristic feature in the medical history is symptoms of asthma that worsen on week days and improve in holidays and rest days.

The following are the most common symptoms of occupational asthma. Person may have few or all of them

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Breathlessness
• Chest pain
• Excessive fatigue

In addition to the above symptoms, many other allergic symptoms can also occur. They show presence of irritants (allergens) in the air

Skin- itchy, red (urticaria) or irritated.
Nose- Itchy, blocked or stuffy, sneezing
Eyes- Red, itchy, burning or watery. 

In most people symptoms appear at work or within several hours after leaving work. The asthma symptoms improve on weekends, vacations, or when away from work or chemical causing symptoms. Usually improvement occurs immediately after the cessation of exposure but some times it takes more than 2 days to recover. Thus true relationship between occupation and asthma can only be ascertained after prolonged cessation of the exposure allowing sufficient time for the lungs to recover. Reappearance of the symptoms immediately after the patient returns to work almost confirms the diagnosis.

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Last edited 22-08-2010