Occupational Allergic Diseases in Kitchen and Health Care Workers: An Underestimated Health Issue

Abstract

Objective. This study evaluated the frequencies of allergic symptoms and rate of upper respiratory infections during the past year in the general population, kitchen workers (KW) and health care workers (HCW). Methods. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) was used to inquire retrospectively about asthma and asthma-like symptoms and the number of treatments required for previous upper respiratory tract infections (URTI: acute pharyngitis, acute sinusitis, etc.) during the past year for health care workers, kitchen workers, and members of the general population. Adjusted odds ratios by gender, age, and smoking status were calculated. Results. 579 subjects (186 from the general population, 205 KW, and 188 HCW; 263 females, 316 males) participated in the study. Noninfectious (allergic) rhinitis was significantly higher in the HCW and KW groups than in the general population (P < 0.001). Cumulative asthma was significantly higher only in the HCW group (P < 0.05). In addition, the HCW and KW groups had significantly higher risks of ≥2/year URTI (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.07–2.38 versus OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.05–2.38) than the general population. Conclusion. Occupational allergic respiratory diseases are an important and growing health issue. Health care providers should become familiar with workplace environments and environmental causes of occupational rhinitis and asthma.

Occupational rhinitis and occupational asthma: Association or progression?

“…Notwithstanding this limitation, 6 of the 43 studies lacking cross‐tabulation (plus all four studies lacking objective pulmonary function tests) provided partial associational data, in which either: 1) the proportion of (presumed) occupational rhinitis cases developing occupational asthma (or vice versa) is reported (albeit in the absence of background rates); or 2) the sequence of development of nasal and chest symptoms are tabulated. Individual study characteristics of excluded studies, including study designs, principal exposure(s), health endpoint(s), number of subjects, and measure(s) of effect appear in Supplemental Tables S1‐S4. Briefly summarizing relevant data from these excluded studies, among workers undergoing objective pulmonary function testing, more than half of those diagnosed with occupational asthma to diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius ) flour, or ammonium persulfate (eg, hairdressers) also gave histories consistent with occupational rhinitis .…”

Arbeitsunfälle und Berufskrankheiten bei Beschäftigten in Küchenbetrieben in Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege

“…Bei Beschäftigten in Küchenbetrieben mit chronischen Handekzemen wurde eine erhöhte Anfälligkeit für Nahrungsmittelallergien beobachtet [12]. Die großen Feuchte-und/oder Stofflasten in Großküchen bedingen ein erhöhtes Risiko für Atemwegserkrankungen [1]. Schnittverletzungen, Stolpern und Verbrennungen werden als die häufigsten Arbeitsunfälle in Küchenbetrieben beschrieben [3].…”

“…In einer japanischen Studie zu Einflussfaktoren auf Nahrungsmittelallergien wurden chronische Handekzeme als ein bedeutender Risikofaktor bei Beschäftigten mit Küchenarbeit identifiziert verglichen mit Beschäftigten ohne Küchenarbeit (Odds-Ratio 2,4; [12]). Die Autoren führen dies auf den häufigen Kontakt mit Fisch-und Fruchtsäuren zurück.Fürchronisch-obstruktive Atem- wegserkrankungen und Infektionen der oberen Atemwege wurden 1,3-bis 1,6fach erhöhte Odds-Ratios für Beschäftigte in Küchenbetrieben ermittelt, wofür neben hohen Wärme-und Feuchtlasten auch Fettaerosole in Kochdämpfen verantwortlich gemacht wurden [1,2]. In der uns vorliegenden Stichprobe war der Anteil an Atemwegserkrankungen an allen bestätigten BK-Fällen vergleichbar mit dem der übrigen UV-Träger (durchschnittlich 1,9 %; [13]).…”

Local allergic rhinitis

“…Regarding LMW agents, a questionnaire-based study [25] in almost 5000 hairdressing students revealed that 18% had rhinitis symptoms. Nasal symptoms were also common among waste collectors [26] and significantly higher among healthcare and kitchen workers compared with the general population [27]. A systematic review of epidemiological studies performed in cleaning workers revealed than almost 80% of these studies showed an increased risk of rhinitis in this population [28].…”