Occupational Asthma: Asthma Baker

What is occupational asthma Baker?

Occupational asthma is one in which the causative agent of asthma is specific to the patient's work environment. At present the Occupational Asthma, ie due to some component of the work is the most common respiratory disease in industrialized countries occupational origin, and has an incidence of 15% of asthma cases that begin in adulthood. Early diagnosis of Allergology is key to the prognosis of the disease and the health and socio-economic consequences that can represent for the patient.

Baker Asthma is a respiratory disease of immune occupational cause, because it is caused by prolonged exposure to allergens.

Allergens that influence Asma Baker

• Allergens from cereal grain: the albumins and globulins present in wheat flour and rye are the main allergens involved in Asma Baker, most affectations is given by wheat flour. Although also been patients affected by flours that are not from cereal, such as soy.
• Bakery additives: there is also prolonged exposure to enzymes that are used as additives in many products, such as amylase, cellulase, hemicellulase, xylanase and glucoamylase.
• natural pollutants: the most common are mushrooms, Weevil and certain mites. Dust mites are the main culprits also the "Asthma Barn" habitual workers in mills, silos and farmers.
• Other environmental alérngenos as egg proteins or latex gloves used for example.

Asthma symptoms Baker

• Oculus-nasal symptoms: patients exposed to flour usually start with symptoms of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, to evolve to respiratory problems or asthma symptoms.
• Respiratory symptoms: once sensitivity to allergens has reached the box asthma, the only effective intervention is to avoid exposure to the allergen in question, and that continuous exposure to the allergen in asthmatic table is associated with worsening of symptoms and lung function.
• Cutaneous symptoms: bakers who react to flours and additives with symptoms of dermatitis, normally not present respiratory problems. Occupational dermatitis in bakers type can be both irritative pathogenic mechanism such as an immune mechanism.

Asthma Forecast Baker

The prognosis of occupational allergy depends on the stage of the disease at the time it is diagnosed. The earlier allergy is detected and start taking environmental hygiene and personal protective measures to avoid as far as possible the allergen, the better the prognosis of the disease. With early diagnosis you can get to control symptoms and prevent progression of the disease.

Protective measures against allergens

Environmental measures: control of ambient levels of sensitizer or allergen is essential to prevent the development of Occupational Asthma. In the case of baker's asthma, try to control the concentration of flour in the working environment below the level that causes symptoms to individuals already sensitized, which is 10 ng / m3.

Respiratory protective measures: Some preventive measures for people sensitive to flour is to use a protective mask, even with a high efficiency filter to avoid breathing the flour particles present in the environment.

Occupational Asthma Treatment Baker

• Immunotherapy: is the progressive administration of increasing doses of the allergen in question to increase the tolerance of the body at the same. In the Ama Baker immunotherapy is effective in patients sensitized to wheat flour or natural contaminants, already have symptoms. Studies have shown that after 20 months of immunotherapy treatment against wheat flour, has been a significant decrease in bronchial hyperresponsiveness and skin sensitivity of patients.
• Monoclonal Antibodies: This treatment has proven highly effective in controlling allergy and occupational asthma flour. It is recommended in patients with severe asthma, which could not be controlled with other treatments such as drugs or immunotherapy.