Work-related asthma and latex allergy - Sorting out the types, causes, andconsequences

Workplace-related asthma is a growing problem, accounting for up to 15% of all cases of asthma. More than 200 occupationally related agents have been implicated, and the list continues to expand. In the last few years, latex allergy has also been found to affect more and more patients and healthcare workers, causing cutaneous and respiratory symptoms as well as anaphylaxis . In this article, Drs Avila and Shusterman review the diagnosis, pathophys iology, and management of these work-related problems.