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Work-related asthma impacting the health of workers

On Behalf of | Oct 13, 2017 | Workplace Illness |

When individuals in Ohio and elsewhere go to work, they likely do not expect to suffer harms because of the work environment they are in. Unfortunately, this is the reality some employees face. A work-related illness can happen suddenly or develop over time but, no matter when it shows up, it can become very detrimental to the lives and health of these employees. Thus, it is important for these workers to understand their situation and note their rights and options.

Based on a current study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers have found that only half of the American adults living with work-related asthma get the recommended vaccination to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia. An analysis of data collected from 2012 to 2013 found that only 54 percent of those living with work-related asthmas received the vaccination. The lowest rate was found to be among Hispanics, followed by those without health insurance and those between the ages of 18 and 44.

Roughly 900,000 Americans get pneumococcal pneumonia each year. Even more so, researchers found that around five to seven percent of these individuals die from this disease. Adults with work-related asthma are at a higher risk of getting pneumococcal pneumonia, which is a lung disease, and they are likely to have complications such as exacerbated asthma and invasive pneumococcal disease.

While it is recommended that adults with asthma receive this vaccination, it is difficult to ensure that every worker living with work-related asthma has the ability and access to this health care. Additionally, the timing of such a vaccination may not prevent such a disease as it could quickly develop. Thus, even individuals that have taken precautionary steps could suffer from this workplace illness.

If you have been diagnosed with a workplace illness, it is important to understand what rights and options are afforded to you. It is likely that the illness has caused you to accumulate medical bills and miss time at work. Workers’ compensation benefits could help address these losses and damages caused by a workplace illness.

Source: Health.usnews.com, “Many With Work-Related Asthma Not Getting Key Vaccine,” Robert Preidt, Sept. 27, 2017