Silicosis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment (2024)

FAQs

Silicosis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment? ›

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling very tiny crystalline particles of silicon dioxide, or silica. If you have it, you'll have symptoms of coughing, inflammation (swelling) and fibrosis (scarring). Those three symptoms identify a group of diseases called pneumoconioses.

Silicosis is a serious chronic (ongoing) lung condition caused by silica dust. If you work in construction, mining or tunnelling you may be exposed to harmful silica dust. Over time your lungs can become damaged, making it hard to breathe. Silicosis can be prevented but there is currently no cure.

There is no specific test for silicosis, so it may take multiple doctor's visits and tests to diagnose. During the visit, your doctor will ask about your breathing, both at rest and during exercise. Your doctor will also ask about your job history in detail to determine the likelihood of silica exposure.

There is no specific treatment for silicosis. Removing the source of silica exposure is important to prevent the disease from getting worse. Supportive treatment includes cough medicine, bronchodilators, and oxygen if needed. Antibiotics are prescribed for respiratory infections as needed.

Symptoms of silicosis can appear from a few weeks to many years after exposure to silica dust. Symptoms typically worsen over time, especially if exposure to silica dust is ongoing.

Silicosis results in permanent lung damage and is a progressive, debilitating, and sometimes fatal disease. Chronic silicosis typically occurs after 10 or more years of exposure to respirable crystalline silica. However, the disease can occur much more quickly after heavy exposures.

Silicosis is an interstitial lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a common mineral found in many types of rock and soil. Over time, exposure to silica particles causes permanent lung scarring, called pulmonary fibrosis.

They might hear abnormal breath sounds while they examine you. You may have the following tests: Imaging tests: These include chest X-rays and high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans. There are certain things that a provider can see on these types of tests that will lead to a diagnosis of silicosis.

The survival times of silicosis stage I , II and III, from the year of diagnosis to death, were 21.5, 15.8 and 6.8 years, respectively. There was 25 % of the silicosis patients whose survival time was beyond 33 y. The mean death age of all silicosis cases was 56.0 y.

We found CT to be informative in quantitating the extent of silicosis and in detecting the presence of associated emphysema. physical examination, chest radiography, and pulmonary function tests.

What is the average age of a person with silicosis? ›

The median age at diagnosis of silicosis in AS group [35.5 years (IQR, 29.9, 46.4)] is younger than non-AS group [51.4 years (IQR, 45.5, 58.9)] and with less time of dust exposure [7.0 years (IQR, 5.0, 8.0) vs. 18.00 years (IQR, 10.0, 27.0)].

There's no cure for silicosis because the lung damage can't be reversed. Treatment aims to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. The condition may continue to get worse, leading to further lung damage and serious disability, although this may happen very slowly over many years.

Drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water, aids in the thinned mucus in your lungs. This allows your body to evacuate the mucus and any trapped dust particles, allowing for cleaner breathing. Hydration also promotes general immune system function, which is vital in preventing diseases caused by dust inhalation.

How much compensation will I get for a silicosis claim? The amount of compensation you can receive for a silicosis compensation claim is usually over £10,000, but could be significantly more depending on the extent of your symptoms and any financial losses you have incurred due to the condition.

Silicosis is an incurable, irreversible and progressive disease affecting the lungs. There aren't any warning signs in the early stages of silicosis, but as the disease progresses symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, fatigue and weight loss develop. Silicosis is usually a terminal disease.

Because silicosis is sometimes confused with sarcoidosis, asbestosis, coal miner's pneumoconiosis, or other pneumoconiosis it is important that all chest x-rays be reviewed by a B-reader.

People who work in the following industries are particularly at risk: stone masonry and stone cutting – especially with sandstone. construction and demolition – as a result of exposure to concrete and paving materials. worktop manufacturing and fitting.

Whole lung lavage

This procedure involves a general anaesthetic and flushing several litres of a salt-water solution through each lung with the aim of “washing out” damaging silica crystals.

Your body can get rid of some dust you breathe in. But if you work in a job where you are exposed to high levels of dust for a long time, or work with products containing a high amount of silica, then your lungs become overwhelmed. As a result, your lungs can't get rid of all the dust.

The survival times of silicosis stage I , II and III, from the year of diagnosis to death, were 21.5, 15.8 and 6.8 years, respectively. There was 25 % of the silicosis patients whose survival time was beyond 33 y. The mean death age of all silicosis cases was 56.0 y.