Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Review

Nonspecific Building Related Illnesses: Chunhui Suh, Eun Hee Ha, Yun Chul Hong, Yoo Mi Chae, Kyu Jin Chang, Jungwon Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2012;24(4):319-327. Published online December 31, 2012; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2012.24.4.319

Abstract PDF: Nonspecific building related illnesses (NBRI) are an array of diverse symptoms related to working in particular buildings. There are numerous contributing factors, including basic factors (temperature, humidity and ventilation) as well as chemicals, dust, microorganisms, and psychosocial factors. At the individual level, taking a careful history is the essential first step. After ruling out other diseases, clinicians can start the symptomatic treatment for NBRI. If a relationship to the building is suspected, a walk through evaluation is very helpful. At the group level, standardized questionnaires and investigations of the building environment can be applied simultaneously. If the prevalence of symptoms are greater than that of general population, appropriate interventions have to be provided for prevention and group health care. In both approaches, it is essential to periodically follow up with symptomatic patients and work environments after an intervention. For the management of NBRI, taking care of the patient's symptoms and maintaining a good indoor environment are important. To achieve this goal, cooperation among workers, building managers, employers and occupational health staff is crucial.

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