Occupational therapist

Who is an occupational pathologist and what does he do? This is a very common question, despite the fact that the profession has existed in medicine for almost a hundred years. An occupational pathologist studies the impact of unfavorable and harmful working conditions on human health.

The doctor is engaged in the systematic study and development of methods for early diagnosis and effective treatment of the disease. The occupational pathologist also supervises the patient from the moment of diagnosis until complete recovery. In addition, the doctor's competence includes the prevention of occupational diseases (health disorders that arise from the effect on the body of harmful, dangerous conditions and characteristics of production and the work process itself) and the medical and social rehabilitation of patients.

Diseases related to the specialization of an occupational pathologist:

• Dust lung diseases (dust bronchitis, occupational bronchial asthma );
• Vibration disease;
• Lesions of the musculoskeletal system (excessive load, chronic microtraumatization);
• Acute industrial intoxication.

This is far from a complete list of occupational diseases; if you experience any ailments related to another type of activity or production, you should immediately seek advice from an occupational pathologist.

When should you contact an occupational pathologist?

When should you consult an occupational pathologist to prevent the development of a serious industrial disease? Occupational diseases include dust lung diseases (dust bronchitis, occupational bronchial asthma, pneumoconiosis); vibration disease; musculoskeletal disorders; chronic trauma; acute occupational intoxication of the body; chronic intoxication of the body (lead, mercury, chromium, fluorine, nitrates, etc.); intoxication with pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, styrene); intoxication with polymers (synthetic rubber, resin, etc.); intoxication with solvents, industrial diseases of the skin and mucous membranes (dermatitis, conjunctivitis, folliculitis, toxic melasma, occupational ulcers, wart-like growths, etc.)

You should seek help from an occupational therapist in the following cases:

• When passing a medical examination before starting work or during a routine medical examination, which is carried out 1-2 times a year (depending on working conditions and characteristics of the production load);
• In case of ailments, the cause of which may be a violation of working conditions and the influence of harmful production factors on the body;
• As a result of intoxication, trauma, damage to the skin and mucous membranes associated with professional activities;
• If you need to obtain a certificate for the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate for the right to drive a vehicle.

What tests should be taken when visiting an occupational pathologist?

The tests that need to be taken when contacting an occupational pathologist depend on what is bothering the patient. First of all, starting with a survey, the doctor needs to draw up a clinical picture and identify the relationship between the disease and the working conditions. An occupational pathologist can conduct an examination both in a hospital office and on-site - at an enterprise or even at home. The doctor draws up a conclusion in accordance with the rules established by law. The main task of an occupational pathologist is not so much to treat, but to find out the cause of the pathology. After all, a clearly established diagnosis will not only improve the patient's health through effective treatment, but also protect other employees of the enterprise from developing a serious disease.

If, during an examination by an occupational pathologist, it is discovered that the patient is unfit for work, the doctor refers him to a specialist doctor in accordance with the identified deviation, and he, in turn, prescribes the necessary instrumental diagnostic methods and issues a referral for tests.

In some cases, an examination by an occupational pathologist is necessary and is carried out immediately before going on shift. In case of poor health or exposure to harmful factors, the employee may harm not only himself, but also other employees of the enterprise.

What diagnostic methods does an occupational pathologist use?

The diagnostic methods used by an occupational pathologist depend on the nature of the pathology detected in the patient. In general, modern medical research methods are usually divided into two groups - laboratory and instrumental. In addition, instrumental methods include a group of surgical methods (for example, when a small piece of affected organ tissue is taken for a detailed histological examination).

Diagnostic methods depend entirely on the nature of the pathology. Skin tests are used for allergies, X-ray data is used for changes in the musculoskeletal system, and changes in the respiratory system are diagnosed using fluorography.

If an occupational pathologist detects serious disorders in the functioning of the patient's organs or entire systems, he has every right to refer him for additional consultation to a specialist doctor. Then, if necessary, the doctor prescribes additional tests and instrumental diagnostic methods to clarify the diagnosis and draw up an effective treatment plan.

In addition, based on the results of laboratory and instrumental analyses, the occupational pathologist assesses the degree of influence of harmful production factors on the patient's health and prescribes preventive measures to avoid exacerbations and further aggravation of the disease. You should contact the doctor at the first signs of a disease clearly caused by harmful production factors. The slightest delay can lead to irreversible changes in health.

What does an occupational pathologist do?

What does an occupational pathologist do and what is a whole section of medicine devoted to? Occupational pathology is a branch of medicine that studies, diagnoses, and treats diseases that arise as a result of exposure to unfavorable conditions at work. In addition, science studies the mechanism of the impact of harmful factors on the body's systems, the causes of development, and the dynamics of the disease. Occupational pathology is closely related to other disciplines, in combination with which the most comfortable and safe conditions at work are formed - labor protection, occupational hygiene, and other branches. Occupational lesions of the body are diseases that develop when a person is exposed to harmful production conditions.

Based on the influence of harmful production factors, doctors develop methods for rapid diagnosis, effective treatment, preventive measures and medical and social rehabilitation of patients.

Diseases related to occupational pathology:

• Dust lung diseases (bronchitis, asthma, pneumoconiosis );
• Vibration disease;
• Lesions of the musculoskeletal system;
• Professional intoxications;
• Chronic occupational intoxication;
• Intoxication with aromatic hydrocarbons, polymers, aromatic solvents;
• Occupational skin diseases (dermatitis, epidermatitis, folliculitis, toxic melasma, wart-like growths, occupational ulcerative skin lesions, allergic dermatoses, occupational cancer ).

What diseases does an occupational pathologist treat?

What diseases does an occupational pathologist treat and how are they classified? In medicine, several groups of occupational pathologies are accepted:

1. Diseases that arise during the impact of dust factors on the respiratory system (pneumoconiosis). Normal lung tissue is replaced by fibrous tissue under the influence of dust. The following lung diseases are especially common:
   • Silicosis;
   • Metalloconiosis;
   • Carboconiosis;
   • Pneumoconiosis;
   • Pneumoconiosis from organic dust;
   • Pneumoconiosis from mixed dust;
   • Silicosis.
2. Diseases arising from exposure to chemical compounds (mercury, lead, manganese, etc.).
3. Diseases arising from the influence of physical factors:
   • Ionizing radiation;
   • Exposure to noise, vibration;
   • Electromagnetic radiation;
   • Effects of atmospheric pressure ( caisson disease, altitude sickness );
   • Exposure to temperature ( overheating, heat stroke, hypothermia, frostbite ).
4. Diseases caused by overstrain of organs and systems of the human body (periarthritis, varicose veins, radiculitis, etc.).
5. Diseases caused by the impact of biological factors on the body ( tuberculosis, brucellosis, anthrax, tick-borne encephalitis).

A separate group includes oncological and allergic pathologies caused by working conditions. Occupational diseases can occur in acute and chronic forms, acute ones occur immediately after contact with a harmful factor, and chronic ones develop gradually, under the influence of a small dose of harmful factors.

Advice from an occupational therapist

The advice of an occupational pathologist basically boils down to one thing - at the first signs of malaise, after direct contact with hazardous substances or after certain working conditions, you should immediately seek advice. Diseases caused by chemical, physical, biological factors, as well as diseases of the respiratory system, skin, musculoskeletal system, acquired at work are called occupational pathologies. Advanced industrial pathology not only harms health and over time, without proper treatment, worsens, but such a person can harm production and be the cause of an emergency. Therefore, you should not ignore annual medical examinations, because the earlier the disease is detected, the greater the chance that serious complications will not arise that can cause disability or even death.

At every enterprise, factory complex, there is a risk of developing occupational diseases among service personnel, and the reasons for this are unfavorable working conditions, environmental pollution, monotony of work and stressful situations.

The task of an occupational pathologist is to prevent the disease at an early stage and prescribe timely treatment. If questions arise in connection with the further tactics of treating the patient, another specialist, a narrow profile, can perform the treatment.