The authors examined and analyzed a group of 132 patients suffering from occupational bronchial asthma at the average period of 6.3 years after notification of the occupational disease. The group was constituted in 65% by women and in 35% by men. The average exposure to etiological occupational noxae lasted 12.8 years. Flour, cow epithelia, isocyanates and textile fibers constitu- ted the main causal agents. Immediately after the disease was notified, 96% of the affected individuals were put out of the exposure to the etiological noxa. The origin of the occupational disease resulted in the loss of professional qualification in 31% of subjects, 26 of the subjects with asthma re-qualified. Only 34% of the affected individuals remained with the original employer. The acquired asthma forced 22% of persons to retire completely, while 20% of subjects retired partly. Only 6% of the subjects healed up completely without signs of asthma syndrome, a ventilation disorder was verified in 43%, a permanent anti-asthmatic pharmaco- therapy is required in 69% of the group. A significant improvement of the complaints since the subjects were found unfit for the risk work was reported by 37% of the subjects. The basic follow-up care has been taken by allergologists and professionals in the area of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases.

        Key words: occupational asthma, occupational diseases, invalidity, general health after discontinued exposure