Q: Which doctor should I consult for occupational asthma?
A: You should consult your family physician, who will evaluate the condition and provide necessary medicines and also advice about suitable preventive measures. In serious cases, he/she may refer you to a pulmonologist (a doctor specializing in diseases of the lungs).
Q: When should I see a doctor?
A: You should seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the symptoms of asthma, rapid worsening of symptoms, or failure of inhalers / nebulizers to improve the condition.
Q: Can the lungs be permanently damaged due to occupational asthma?
A: If not properly diagnosed and treated at an early stage, occupational asthma can result in permanent lung damage, causing disability and in certain cases, even death.
Q: Is occupational asthma curable?
A: Yes. If diagnosed early and treated properly and exposure to the causative agent is prevented, then occupational asthma can be cured.
Q: Can occupational asthma be considered as a disability?
A: If there is severe lung damage, even after proper treatment and stopping the exposure, then occupational asthma may be considered as a disability.
Q: Can occupational asthma resolve by itself?
A: If exposure to the harmful agent is stopped, then the symptoms usually resolve. But this depends on the severity of the exposure.
