Occupational pathology of respiratory organs in health care workers: issues of timely diagnosis

Introduction. In the structure of occupational diseases of medical workers, respiratory pathology occupies a leading place, accounting for 60% in the Republic of Tatarstan. The most common are diseases from exposure to infectious agents in the form of various forms of respiratory tuberculosis. Most often, an infiltrative form is diagnosed, accompanied in 48.6% of cases by bacilli discharge.

The aim of the study is to explore the structure of occupational respiratory diseases in workers of the healthcare industry of the Republic of Tatarstan, to identify factors that affect their early diagnosis during medical examinations.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of cases of occupational respiratory diseases in health care workers according to the office of Rospotrebnadzor of the Republic of Tatarstan and the register of patients of the Republican Center of Occupational Pathology.

Results. In the structure of occupational diseases of the respiratory system, the leading place is occupied by pulmonary tuberculosis, amounting to 86%, followed by bronchial asthma–8%, chronic toxic bronchitis–4% and subatrophic rhinopharyngolaryngitis–2%. Analysis of cases of occupational respiratory pathology showed that only tuberculosis was detected during periodic medical examinations. Other respiratory diseases were diagnosed by applying for medical care, when there was a pronounced negative trend and when the disease was initially associated with the profession, we had to talk about sending it to the Bureau of medical and social expertise.

Conclusions. Early diagnosis of occupational respiratory diseases of allergic etiology and toxic respiratory lesions in medical workers at periodic medical examinations can be achieved by the quality of a special assessment of working conditions due to the mandatory assessment of the chemical factor-contact with allergens, antitumor drugs, hormones, enzymes of microbial origin, narcotic analgesics, regardless of the concentration of harmful substances in the air of the working area. It is also necessary to take into account the presence of substances with an acute irritant effect.

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