Original scientific paper
Pre-employment Evaluation of Atopy and Contact Sensitisation in the Prevention of Allergy-Related Diseases
Jelena Macan
Božica Kanceljak-Macan
Sanja Milković-Kraus
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of markers of atopy and contact sensitisation in asymptomatic young adults and to assess their role in pre-employment screening. The study included 351 subjects, of whom 166 women (mean age 28.0±6.4 years) and 185 men (mean age 26.3±5.4 years). The pre-employment examination commissioned by a pharmaceutical company included a questionnaire, the patch test with the European standard series of contact allergens, prick test with common inhalatory allergens, and the serum-specific IgE measurement. According to the medical history 115/166 (69.3%) women and 142/185 (76.8%) men were asymptomatic, but 28 (24.3%) asymptomatic women and 40 (28.2%) asymptomatic men showed atopy and/or contact sensitisation. Pre-employment allergy examination can be considered a reliable detection procedure for the majority of asymptomatic persons with atopy and contact sensitisation. The knowledge of these conditions gives the opportunity for secondary prevention and better diagnostic validation of occupational allergic diseases.
Keywords
patch test; pre-employment examination; prevention; prick test; risk factors; specific IgE
Hrčak ID:
453
URI
Publication date:
20.9.2002.
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