Occupational Asthma

What is Occupational Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Between episodes, most patients feel mostly all right but can have a slight problem feeling out of breath for longer periods of time.

The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of drugs and environmental changes.

Public attention has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence.

There are both biological and chemical causes of asthma. Bilogical causes include flour, grain, wood dusts, colophony or rosin used in solder flux. Chemical causes include isocyanates, Acid Anhydrides, metal salts, welding fumes and some disinfectant agents used widely in hospitals.

Asbestos Related Diseases

What is Asbestos Scarring?

The Lung Lining (Membrane) shows up on an X-ray as white lines in people over sixty, it is first thought to be scaring, it stops the lung moving and causes discomfort such as back pain as scares take up space in the rib cage, also classic symptoms are clubbing of the nails both finger and toe.

What is Pleural Plaques?

Pleural plaques are well-demarcated usually bilateral areas of scarring present on the inner surface of the ribcage and the diaphragm. They are often partly calcified.

What is Bilateral Diffuse Plural Thickening?

This is a (non-cancerous) thickening/scaring (fibrosis) of the pleural membrane surrounding the lung(s). It usually occurs when fluid leaks into a person's chest following an accident or a rheumatic condition and then drains away. Typically, the lower outside part of the lung is damaged and either one or both lungs can be affected to a degree which varies from very minor to extensive.

Unfortunately, the condition often becomes worse over time and may result in chest pain, breathlessness and other general disability as lungs are prevented from functioning properly.

What is Mesothelioma?

This is a tumour which affects the mesothelial cells which cover the majority of the body's internal organs and play an important role in maintaining their normal function. Malignant mesothelioma occurs most commonly in lung linings but also can also affect the linings of the abdominal cavity, heart and testicles. In all cases, an initially small tumour grows over time to encase the organ. In the case of the lungs and heart it constricts them which in turn leads to a rapid onset of breathlessness and usually chest pain. The disease is often associated with a rapid and significant weight loss and heavy and sudden sweating, particularly at night.

Malignant Mesothelioma is extremely rare in the absence of asbestos exposure and there is a direct correlation between the level of exposure to asbestos and the risk of developing mesothelioma.

How does a claim work?

The starting point is to complete the online questionnaire by clicking on this link.

Once you have submitted your enquiry we will tell you what your chances of making a successful claim will be and we will contact you with details of an appropriate solicitor, who will get in touch over the next couple of days.