Asma ocupacional

In this review of the asthma caused by stimuli derived from the work environment- occupational asthma - we discuss its concept, classification, triggering agents, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis, therapeutical principles and prognosis. It is also presented a clinical case related to environmental exposition in the shoe industry.Nesta revisão da asma causada por estímulos próprios do ambiente de trabalho –asma ocupacional – são discutidas sua conceituação, classificação, agentes desencadeantes, fisiopatologia, critérios diagnósticos e diagnóstico diferencial, princípios de tratamento e prognóstico. É também apresentado um caso clínico ilustrativo, relacionado à exposição ambiental em indústria de calçados

Proposta de abolição do teste de sensibilidade cutâneo antes da aplicação do soro anti-rábico de origem eqüina

An epizootic outbreak of rabies occurred in 1995 in Ribeirão Preto, SP, with 58 cases of animal rabies (54 dogs, 3 cats and 1 bat) confirmed by the Pasteur Institute of São Paulo, and one human death. The need to provide care to a large number of people for the application of equine rabies immune globulin (ERIG) prevented the execution of the skin sensitivity test (SST) and often also the execution of desensitization, procedures routinely used up to that time at the Emergency Unit of the University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (EU-UHFMRP-USP), a reference hospital for the application of heterologous sera. In view of our positive experience of several years with the abolition of SST and of the use of premedication before the application of antivenom sera, we used a similar schedule for ERIG application. Of the 1489 victims of animal bites, 1054 (71%) received ERIG; no patient was submitted to SST and all received intravenously anti-histamines (anti-H1 + anti-H2) and corticosteroids before the procedure. The patients were kept under observation for 60 to 180 minutes and no adverse reaction was observed. On the basis of these results, since December 1995 ERIG application has been decentralized in Ribeirão Preto and has become the responsibility of the Emergency Unit of the University Hospital and the Central Basic Health Unit, where the same routine is used. Since then, 4216 patients have received ERIG (1818 at the Basic Health Unit and 2398 at the EU-UHFMRP), with no problems. The ideal would be the routine use of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) in public health programs, but this is problematic, because of their high cost. However, while this does not occur, the use of SST is no longer justified at the time of application of ERIG, in view of the clinical evidence of low predictive value and low sensitivity of SST involving the application of heterologous sera. It is very important to point out that a negative SST result may lead the health team to a feeling of false safety that no adverse reaction will occur, but this is not true for the anaphylactoid reactions. The decision to use premedication, which is based on knowledge about anaphylaxis and on the pharmacology of the medication used, is left to the judgment of health professionals, who should always be prepared for eventual untoward events.Durante o ano de 1995, ocorreu em Ribeirão Preto, SP, uma epizootia de raiva, com 58 casos de raiva animal (54 cães, 3 gatos, 1 morcego), confirmados pelo Instituto Pasteur, S. Paulo, e um óbito humano. A necessidade de prestar atendimento a um grande número de pessoas para aplicação do soro anti-rábico eqüino, tornou inviável a realização do teste de sensibilidade intradérmico (TSI) e da dessensibilização, utilizados até então como rotina, conforme orientação da Organização Mundial da Saúde e do Ministério da Saúde, na Unidade de Emergência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, hospital de referência para aplicação de soros heterólogos. Com base na experiência positiva de vários anos com a abolição do TSI e uso de pré-medicação antes da aplicação endovenosa de soros antivenenos, foi utilizado esquema semelhante para a aplicação de soro anti-rábico eqüino (SARE). Das 1489 vítimas de mordeduras de animais, 1054 (71%) receberam SARE; nenhuma delas foi submetida ao TSI e todas receberam previamente anti-histamínicos (anti-H1 + anti-H2) e corticosteróides por via intravenosa, permanecendo em observação durante 60 a 180 minutos, não sendo verificada nenhuma reação adversa. A partir desses resultados, desde dezembro de 1995 a aplicação do SARE foi descentralizada em Ribeirão Preto, ficando responsável a Unidade Básica de Saúde Central (UBDS) pelos pacientes moradores da cidade de Ribeirão Preto, e a Unidade de Emergência do Hospital das Clínicas, pelos provenientes das cidades componentes da macroregião, utilizando-se a mesma rotina nesses dois locais, ou seja, abolição do TSI e uso de pré-medicação. Desde então até dezembro de 1999, 4216 pacientes receberam SARE, sem problemas (2398 na UE-HCFMRP e 1818 na UBDS). O ideal seria a possibilidade de utilização de imunoglobulina anti-rábica humana nos programas de saúde pública, o que é problemático devido ao seu alto custo. Enquanto isso não ocorrer, a realização de TSI quando da aplicação de SARE não mais se justifica, devido às evidências do baixo valor preditivo e baixa sensibilidade dos TSI frente à aplicação de soros heterólogos. Mais importante ainda, um TSI negativo pode dar ao profissional de saúde a falsa segurança de que não ocorrerá nenhuma reação, o que não é válido para as reações anafilactóides. A decisão da utilização de pré-medicação, que se baseia no conhecimento da fisiopatologia da anafilaxia e na farmacologia da medicação utilizada, fica a critério do profissional de saúde, que deve sempre estar preparado para eventuais intercorrências

Anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions

Anaphylaxis is the most urgent and potentially serious manifestation of allergic disease. The term anaphylaxis must be used to describe consequenses of Ig E-mediated release of potent biologically active substances, upon a given target organ, and may includes: upper respiratory obstruction, bronchospam and shock. Sometimes the clinical syndrome of systemic anaphylaxis is due to a non-Ig E mediated stimulation, called anaphylactoid reaction. Both of them requires prompt recognition of symptoms and aggressive therapeutic intervention, for a successful management.A anafilaxia é uma reação de hipersensibilidade imediata - tipo I - ocasionada pela liberação de mediadores inflamatórios, oriundos de mastócitos e basófilos e dependente da imunoglobulina E, sendo a mais grave de todas as manifestações alérgicas. As reações anafilactóides são clinicamente semelhantes às reações anafiláticas, embora tenham etiologia distinta, não relacionada à presença da Ig E. Ambas são graves, podendo cursar com urticária, angioedema, broncoconstricção, hipotensão e choque, causando óbito em alguns casos. Devese fazer o diagnóstico precoce e instituir o tratamento adequado o mais rapidamente possível, a fim de que complicações sejam evitadas

Asthma: management of asthma exacerbations

A asma é uma doença inflamatória, crônica, das vias aéreas, que se tornam hiperresponsivas e obstruídas, causando tosse, sibilância, dispnéia e desconforto torácico, de modo recorrente. Pode ser classificada como leve, moderada ou grave. Crises asmáticas são caracterizadas por períodos de piora dos sintomas clínicos e da função pulmonar, de maneira reversível, resultando em prejuízo para as atividades usuais do doente e de sua qualidade de vida. A inflamação das vias aéreas, contudo, permanece cronicamente, mesmo nos períodos intercríticos. As agudizações também devem ser classificadas de acordo com sua gravidade, para que a melhor opção terapêutica e os cuidados com o paciente sejam instituídos.Asthma is a chronic inflammatory obstructive disease of the airways that become hyperresponsive when exposed to various stimuli, and causes recurrent episodes of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of the breath. Asthma can be mild, moderate or severe and requires long term management. Asthma attacks are characterized by periods of increased symptoms and reduced lung function, which may result in diminished ability to perform usual activities. The inflammation is always present, in despite of asthma severity. A large number of irritants and sensitizers may trigger exacerbations. It’s very important to estimate the severity of an asthma attack to make decisions that ensure an effective treatment

The treatment of allergic rhinitis improves the recovery from asthma and upper respiratory infections

Forty-six asthmatic children with repeated respiratory infections presented symptoms of allergic rhinitis. All patients were treated locally for allergic rhinitis either with disodium cromoglycate or beclomethasone dipropionate. After six months of treatment, 95% of the children showed improvement of allergic rhinitis and 84% improvement of bronchial asthma, as well as fewer infections. We concluded that allergic rhinitis plays an important role in facilitating infections of the upper respiratory tract, and a possible association of rhinitis, viral infections and bronchial asthma is discussed

Proposal of abolition of the skin sensitivity test before equine rabies immune globulin application

An epizootic outbreak of rabies occurred in 1995 in Ribeirão Preto, SP, with 58 cases of animal rabies (54 dogs, 3 cats and 1 bat) confirmed by the Pasteur Institute of São Paulo, and one human death. The need to provide care to a large number of people for the application of equine rabies immune globulin (ERIG) prevented the execution of the skin sensitivity test (SST) and often also the execution of desensitization, procedures routinely used up to that time at the Emergency Unit of the University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (EU-UHFMRP-USP), a reference hospital for the application of heterologous sera. In view of our positive experience of several years with the abolition of SST and of the use of premedication before the application of antivenom sera, we used a similar schedule for ERIG application. Of the 1489 victims of animal bites, 1054 (71%) received ERIG; no patient was submitted to SST and all received intravenously anti-histamines (anti-H1 + anti-H2) and corticosteroids before the procedure. The patients were kept under observation for 60 to 180 minutes and no adverse reaction was observed. On the basis of these results, since December 1995 ERIG application has been decentralized in Ribeirão Preto and has become the responsibility of the Emergency Unit of the University Hospital and the Central Basic Health Unit, where the same routine is used. Since then, 4216 patients have received ERIG (1818 at the Basic Health Unit and 2398 at the EU-UHFMRP), with no problems. The ideal would be the routine use of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) in public health programs, but this is problematic, because of their high cost. However, while this does not occur, the use of SST is no longer justified at the time of application of ERIG, in view of the clinical evidence of low predictive value and low sensitivity of SST involving the application of heterologous sera. It is very important to point out that a negative SST result may lead the health team to a feeling of false safety that no adverse reaction will occur, but this is not true for the anaphylactoid reactions. The decision to use premedication, which is based on knowledge about anaphylaxis and on the pharmacology of the medication used, is left to the judgment of health professionals, who should always be prepared for eventual untoward events

Multiplicity dependence of light (anti-)nuclei production in p–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV

The measurement of the deuteron and anti-deuteron production in the rapidity range −1 < y < 0 as a function of transverse momentum and event multiplicity in p–Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV is presented. (Anti-)deuterons are identified via their specific energy loss dE/dx and via their time-of- flight. Their production in p–Pb collisions is compared to pp and Pb–Pb collisions and is discussed within the context of thermal and coalescence models. The ratio of integrated yields of deuterons to protons (d/p) shows a significant increase as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity of the event starting from values similar to those observed in pp collisions at low multiplicities and approaching those observed in Pb–Pb collisions at high multiplicities. The mean transverse particle momenta are extracted from the deuteron spectra and the values are similar to those obtained for p and particles. Thus, deuteron spectra do not follow mass ordering. This behaviour is in contrast to the trend observed for non-composite particles in p–Pb collisions. In addition, the production of the rare 3He and 3He nuclei has been studied. The spectrum corresponding to all non-single diffractive p-Pb collisions is obtained in the rapidity window −1 < y < 0 and the pT-integrated yield dN/dy is extracted. It is found that the yields of protons, deuterons, and 3He, normalised by the spin degeneracy factor, follow an exponential decrease with mass number