Table 3 Initial misdiagnosis, correct diagnosis, and the frequency for each clinical specialty

Dermatology or Allergy (13 articles)

Non-allergic irritant contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis (Occupational epoxy)

2

Allergic contact dermatitis

Non-allergic contact dermatitis

3

Laryngopharyngeal reflux

Allergic laryngitis (Occupational origin)

1

Asthma

Irritant vocal cord dysfunction

2

Reactive airway dysfunction syndrome

Occupational asthma

No asthmatic reaction

1

Asthma or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

No lung function abnormality

1

Bronchial asthma (occupational origin)

Carcinoid syndrome

1

Other respiratory diseases

Occupational asthma

2

No asthmatic reaction

Pulmonology (30 articles)

Sarcoidosis

Chronic beryllium disease

8

Silicosis

Occupational interstitial lung disease

Asthma or asthmatic bronchitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

2

Idiopathic interstitial lung disease

Pneumoconiosis or other lung diseases

Pneumoconiosis or other lung diseases

2

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or other lung diseases (including Tuberculosis)

Occupational or environmental interstitial lung disease (pneumoconiosis, silicosis, silicotuberculosis, or pigeon fancier’s lung)

8

Other lung diseases

Chronic terminal airways and parenchymal lung disease, including obliterative bronchiolitis (occupational origin)

2

Other lung diseases

Typical lung cancer

Occupational lung cancer

1

Asbestos-related malignant cancer

Bilateral parietal pleural plaque

3

Benign asbestos pleurisy

Malignant mesothelioma

2

Thoracic aortic rupture or dissection

Drug-resistant pneumonia

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

1

Chronic beryllium disease

Mycobacterium infection (Avium intracellulare)

1

Poisoning (10 articles)

Other diseases

Poisoning (Lead, Methyl iodide and manganese, N-hexane, and Mercury)

6

Neurotoxicant exposure or primary psychiatric illness and multiple chemical sensitivity

Neurotoxicant exposure or primary psychiatric illness and multiple chemical sensitivity

1

Neurotoxic disease

A naturally occurring nervous system disease, psychogenic illness (including cognitive malingering)

2

Viral flu

Polymer fume fever

1

Orthopedics or trauma (10 articles)

Occupational overuse syndrome

Guyon’s canal syndrome

1

Other bone abnormalities

Condensing osteitis of the clavicle

1

Motor dysfunction disease

Musician’s focal dystonia

1

Ulnar styloid fracture

Calcific tendinitis of the flexor carpi ulnaris

1

Occupational injury and illness or Other diseases of non-occupational origin

Occupational injury and illness or Other diseases of non-occupational origin

1

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Nonspecific activity-related arm pain

1

Hand-arm vibration syndrome

Cold hemagglutinin disease

1

Fractured orbital bone

A plastic foreign body (Occupational craniofacial injury)

2

Retrobulbar hemorrhage/edema

A spiral fracture of the right tibia

Unrecognized foreign body

1

Infection (5 articles)

Toxoplasmosis

Whipple’s disease

1

An insect bite or Child abuse

Phytophotodermatitis

1

Other febrile diseases.

Tsutsugamushi disease (occupational origin)

1

Varicella-zoster virus infection

No infection

1

Virus infection

Leptospirosis

1

Others (5 articles)

Acute kidney injury

Normal kidney function

1

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss or other hearing loss disease

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss or other hearing loss disease

1

Other psychiatric or stress disorder

Workplace adjustment disorder

1

Arterial gas embolism

Facial nerve baroparesis

1

Pelvic infection

Corpus cavernosum thrombosis

1

General (6 articles)

Other diseases

Occupational diseases, general

3

Environmental illnesses (including Minamata disease) or other diseases

Environmental illnesses or other diseases

2

Asthma or allergic condition

Multiple chemical sensitivity

1