Occupational upper airway disorders

The upper respiratory tract, extending from the nares to the larynx, performs several essential physiological functions, including olfaction, phonation, air conditioning, filtering, and microbial defense. In the occupational setting, workers are exposed to a wide variety of chemical and biological agents that can have allergic or irritant effects, or both, on the upper airway. This article presents our current understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical assessment, and management of occupationally related upper airway disorders.