Occupational asthma in textile worker: A case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/dcj.2021.57Keywords:
occupational asthma, textile material, cotton dustAbstract
This is a case report of one 40-year-old, male patient. He presented with chest tightness and dyspnea. He was discovered by occupational medicine physician. These symptoms occurred at midnight and resulted in emergency treatment at a nearby hospital, after working for three years in a local cotton factory. He was normal on physical examination, but the results of pulmonary function tests showed obstructive small airway (FVC 4.13 L (97%), FEV1 / FVC = 75%. The change of FEV1 after giving the bronchodilator was 5%, FEF25-75% measured at 149L / min (69% predicted)). As a specific history of asthma, the methacholine challenge test was performed. The result was 0.998 mg/ml, indicating moderate to severe bronchial hyperresponsiveness, so he had been diagnosed with asthma. Therefore, the serial peak expiratory flow (serial PEF) was done, and computer-analysis tools (Oasys) were used to diagnose occupational asthma due to exposure to cotton dust. This report showed the importance of history of occupational exposure in textile industry, differential diagnosis and problems of diagnosing occupational asthma. Occupational asthma is a preventable disease. If early diagnosis were performed, a good prognosis would be obtained. If correct diagnosis was performed, this occupational health threat among other workers would be prevented by implementing appropriate occupational hazard control measures.
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