Contribution of Reexposure Tests to the Diagnosis of OccupationalRespiratory Allergic Diseases

Overview

From 144 subjects examined at the Clinic of Occupational Medicine in Olomouc since 1991 onaccount of suspected occupational allergic disease of the respiratory pathways, this diagnosiswas confirmed in 37 patients. In 50 subjects non-occupational allergic disease of the respiratorypathways was found, in the remainder neither allergic nor occupational disease was detected.The authors describe the practical procedure of re-exposure tests at the workplace. In theinvestigated group the re-exposure test in case of suspected occupational asthma was performed27x, 18x with a positive, 9x with a negative result. The authors consider reexposure tests animportant part of the diagnosis of respiratory allergies.

Key words:
occupational asthma bronchiale - reexposure tests.