
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Occupational asthma historical perspective
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Historical Perspective
Historical Perspective
- The first person to use it in reference to a medical condition was Hippocrates in 450 BC, and he believed that tailors, anglers and metalworkers were more likely to be affected by the disease. Although much research has been done since, the inflammatory component of asthma was recognized only in the 1960s.* In 1700, Bernardino Ramazzini, Doctor of Philosophy and Medicine from parma, Italy published the book De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (A Treatise on the Diseases of Workers). Although researchers like Olaus Magus had done work on diseases due to occupational causes as early as 1555, this was the first comprehensive work on work-related diseases. This volume described in detail the diseases of workers in 52 different occupations.[1] Thus, this formed the basis for the emergence of occupational medicine and even today, it is an important reference. Due to his important contribution to this field, Dr. Ramazzini is considered the father of occupational medicine.* Similarly, Dr. Jack Pepys, for his contribution to research on asthma in the workplace, is also considered as the father of occupational asthma[2]. His work on the role of aspergillus species in pulmonary diseases as an important pathogenic factor for farmerβs lung has been heavily influenced the emergence of occupational asthma as an occupational disease. And, thanks to his work on Specific Inhalation Challenge, the compensatible aspect of the disease was recognized.
References
References
- β Major R H: A History of Medicine. CHEST, VOL. 57, NO. 4, APRIL 1970. C.C. Thomas Springfield 1954
- β Occupational Asthma: The Past 50 years. Chan-Yeung M.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:
