A Case of Occupational Asthma Induced by Cleaning Agent

Abstract

Background: Cleaning agents have an airway irritant effect. There have been few reports of occupational asthma induced by cleaning agents at workplace or at home. Chlorine, the most common chemical used in cleaning products, has a strong irritative effect on the airways. We experienced a case of occupational asthma caused by chlorine that developed in a health care worker. Case History: Eleven years later, she developed dyspnea and cough, which was aggravated after exposure to cleaning agent spray that released chlorine at workplace. Results: The patient was positive to 2 house dust mites on skin prick tests but negative to the cleaning agent. Methacholine bronchoprovocation tests showed a negative result; however, a specific bronchoprovocation test with exposure to the cleaning agent showed a positive response of more than 15% fall of forced expiratory volume in 1 second. There were no significant changes in sputum cell counts and exhaled nitric oxide levels after the specific bronchoprovocation test. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of occupational asthma caused by, chlorine, a cleaning agent that developed in a health care worker in Korea, which was confirmed by the specific bronchoprovocation test.