Silicosis is a respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of silica dust to scarring and inflammation of the lung tissues. This is an ancient occupational lung disease. This is a type of pneumoconiosis. This is also called Potter’s rot. Acute form of silicosis is characterized by cough, cyanosis, fever and shortness of breath. This is sometimes misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, pulmonary edema or pneumonia.
Three types of silicosis has been observed:
- Simple chronic silicosis: This is caused due to long term exposure to the low amounts of silica dust. Chronic inflammation nodules and scarring provoked by silica dust that collect in lungs and the chest lymph nodes. This condition can feature breathlessness and may be similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Acute Silicosis: This is due to short term exposure to huge amounts of silica. The lungs become inflamed and may fill with the fluid. This causes low levels of oxygen in blood stream and severe shortness of breath.
- Accelerated Silicosis: This occurs after exposure to large amounts of silica for a shorter period of time, that is, 5 – 15 years. Scarring and inflammation are the symptoms of accelerated silicosis. Symptoms progress rapidly in this when compared to simple silicosis.
Symptoms of Silicosis:
As chronic silicosis is slow to develop, symptoms does not appear until long term exposure to silica dust. Symptoms of silicosis include
- Dark shallow rifts in the nails. These lead to cracks because of the destruction of protein fibers in the nail beds.
- Fever
- Chest pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Tachypnea that is often labored
- Fatigue
- Cough, mostly persistent and severe sometimes
- Dyspnea exacerbated by exertion
In advanced cases, following symptoms may also appear:
- Respiratory insufficiency
- Cor pulmonale
- Cyanosis
Treatments for Silicosis:
There is no certain cure for silicosis. Acute silicosis progresses faster to respiratory failure and even death. Therapy is prescribed to give relief from the symptoms, treat further complications and to avoid respiratory infections. This also includes monitoring tuberculosis symptoms. Increased fluid intake, physical therapy, steam inhalation and bronchodilators are used for treating the symptoms. People with severe difficulty in breathing are advised for oxygen therapy or placed mechanical ventilator. Acute silicosis can progress to complete failure of the respiratory system. In some cases, heart-lung transplant is the only hope.
