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Diagnosis of Occupational Rhinitis

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Allergy Frontiers: Diagnosis and Health Economics

Part of the book series: Allergy Frontiers ((ALLERGY,volume 4))

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Occupational rhinitis refers to nasal disease caused by stimuli in the working environment. As the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms may have an allergic, a non-allergic or an unknown background standardized or even clear-cut diagnostic tools are not available. The occupational and medical history should give some evidence of a relation between the occurrence of symptoms and work. Skin test and immunological tests may be helpful in case of allergic reactions to high molecular weight (HMW) agents. A history and evidence of sensitization to occupational allergens may lead to a probable diagnosis of occupational rhinitis. A variety of tools such as assessments of nasal patency or resistance, assessment of inflammation with nasal lavage or NO can be used to support the diagnosis, however none of the tools are validated for the diagnosis of monitoring of occupational allergy.

A definite diagnosis can only be established with nasal challenge tests or exposure to agents in the work place.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Allergology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Roy Gerth van Wijk

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  1. Roy Gerth van Wijk
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Ruby Pawankar

  2. Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK

    Stephen T. Holgate

  3. UMKC School of Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA

    Lanny J. Rosenwasser

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van Wijk, R.G. (2009). Diagnosis of Occupational Rhinitis. In: Pawankar, R., Holgate, S.T., Rosenwasser, L.J. (eds) Allergy Frontiers: Diagnosis and Health Economics. Allergy Frontiers, vol 4. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-98349-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-98349-1_13

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