Allergies in the workplace Allergic reaction against printer and copier?

Meeting on workplace allergies and new therapies
Allergies at the workplace and new therapies form the focal points of the 19th Interdisciplinary Allergological Winter Conference in Göttingen. "Is there an allergy to copying and printing? What role does the soul play in people with allergies? ", Are examples of the questions that the experts will focus on on January 23, according to the announcement of the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG).

In addition, insights into new allergen-specific therapies and genetic aspects of atopic dermatitis will be given at the conference, reports the university hospital. The interdisciplinary further training event is aimed "especially at dermatologists, ENT specialists, general practitioners, occupational physicians and pediatric and pulmonary specialists." The conference will be organized in cooperation with the Association of German Allergists (AeDA) and the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology ( DGAKI).

Allergies in the workplace can also occur in the office, for example, against printer materials and copiers. However, allergic reactions to toner components are probably rare. (Image: lenets_tan / fotolia.com)

Allergy symptoms initially unspecific
Regarding allergies in the workplace, the UMG names "wheat flour, rye flour or mold" as examples of substances that can cause allergic reactions in the workplace. Often the first signs are unspecific and the allergy can be seen, for example, as a "cold, conjunctivitis or sinusitis or headache." Also affected would hear worse or not sleep well because of acute respiratory distress. If the complaints are stopped, the general condition deteriorates and it can lead to days off work. The topic will be discussed at the conference. Monika Raulf from the Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum.

Allergic to printer and copier?
The rather unusual question of allergic reactions to printing and copying is discussed by the Priv.-Doz. Dr. Rudolf Jörres from the Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine of the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich. He goes to the question of whether there are actually allergies to printing and copying, reports the UMG. Allergic reactions to toner constituents are very likely to be rare, but what exactly causes colds and eyebrows at the copier? Dr. Jörres explains why, when dealing with appropriate complaints, non-allergic causes, such as nonspecific irritation of the respiratory tract or mucous membranes, should be considered.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy, tolerance induction and barrier defects
Furthermore, at the winter conference, Professor dr. Randolf Brehler from the Department of Dermatology, Allergology, Occupational Dermatology and Environmental Medicine of the University Hospital Münster on the effectiveness of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), because new data would show that this therapy is very effective in acute allergic complaints. Also, they prevent the occurrence of new allergies or asthma. The aspect of "Allergy and Psychosomatic Medicine" is dedicated to Prof. Dr. med. Uwe Gieler from the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology at the University of Gießen in an interdisciplinary approach. For example, explanations are needed to find out why some people with a horse allergy even have to react and sneeze on horses on television. Other topics of the conference are for example the induction of tolerance, which the epigeneticist Prof. Dr. med. Dr. Michael Kabesch, pediatrician at the hospital Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg, describes the importance of genetic barrier defects in the development of neurodermatitis. Andrea Braun and Priv.-Doz. Dr. Timo Buhl of the UMG discuss. (Pm / fp)