Asthma is a condition of hypersensitive airways that can come about from a variety of causes. Most non-occupational asthma, in fact, is of unknown cause. However, apart from removing the worker from the environment, treatment does not differ from non-occupational asthma. Perhaps the most important difference is how the occupational condition affects the worker's livelihood. While this sounds simple, in reality it almost never is.
Most affected workers are unable to just pick up and find another job.
Yet there may be no other area in the company or factory in which to work. Unfortunately, masks and ventilators are almost never effective in preventing inhalation of offending substances. The worker must be removed from the offending environment. The second major difference between occupational and non-occupational airway disease is the potential argument over diagnosis. Many people will question the diagnosis of occupational asthma or occupational bronchitis.