BACKGROUND The prevalence of welding related respiratory symptoms coexisting with welding related systemic symptoms in welders is unknown. AIMS To determine in a sample of welders the prevalence of coexisting welding related systemic symptoms indicative of metal fume fever (MFF) and welding related respiratory symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma (OA), and the strength and significance ...

INTRODUCTION Over the last three decades the prevalence of respiratory diseases has been increasing worldwide thus increasing economic burden on the healthcare system. Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of asthma in West European countries ranges from 6-9%, while of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is 8.0% worldwide. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to estimate the p...

The reduced pressure in an aircraft cabin may cause significant hypoxaemia and respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The current study evaluated whether there is a relationship between hypoxaemia obtained during hypoxia-altitude simulation testing (HAST), simulating an altitude of 2438 m, and the reporting of respiratory symptoms during air travel. ...

RATIONALE Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a well-known marker of established airway inflammation in asthma. Its role in the disease process before the onset of respiratory symptoms remains unclear. OBJECTIVES To examine whether elevated NO in newborns with clinically naive airways is associated with subsequent respiratory symptoms in infancy. METHODS We measured exhaled NO concentration and ou...

Many studies reviewed show that both workplace exposure to organic dust and smoking may cause chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation in susceptible subjects. We performed a case-control study including 63 tea workers (36 male and 27 female, aged 36-55, duration of employment 3–30 years) and an equal number of office workers, matched by sex and age. Chronic respiratory symptoms (chr...

OBJECTIVE Parent-reported symptoms are frequently used to triage children, but little is known about which symptoms identify children with serious respiratory infections. The authors aimed to identify symptoms and triage findings predictive of serious respiratory infection, and to quantify agreement between parent and nurse assessment. DESIGN Prospective diagnostic cohort study. SETTING Pae...