Silicosis is a disease characterized by inhalation of silica, usually due to professional activity, which results in severe coughing, fever and difficulty breathing. Silicosis can be classified according to the time of exposure to silica and the time the symptoms appear in:
- Chronic silicosis, also called simple nodular silicosis, which is common in people who are exposed to small amounts of silica daily, and the symptoms may appear after 10 to 20 years of exposure; Accelerated silicosis, also called subacute silicosis, whose symptoms start to appear 5 to 10 years after the beginning of the exposure, the most characteristic symptom being the inflammation and desquamation of the pulmonary alveoli, which can easily evolve to the most severe form of the disease; Acute or accelerated silicosis, which is the most serious form of the disease whose symptoms can appear after a few months of exposure to silica dust, and which can quickly evolve to respiratory failure and lead to death.
This disease is more common in people who are constantly exposed to silica dust, which is the main constituent of sand, such as miners, people who work in the construction of tunnels and sandstone and granite cutters, for example.
Symptoms of silicosis
Silica powder is extremely toxic to the body and, therefore, constant exposure to this substance can result in several symptoms, such as:
- Fever; Chest pain; Dry and severe cough; Night sweats; Shortness of breath due to efforts; Decreased breathing capacity.
In the case of chronic silicosis, for example, due to prolonged exposure, there may be the progressive formation of fibrous tissue in the lungs, which can result in dizziness and weakness due to the difficulty in oxygenating the blood. In addition, people with silicosis are more likely to develop any type of respiratory infection, especially tuberculosis.
The diagnosis of silicosis is made by the occupational physician or general practitioner through the analysis of the symptoms presented, chest X-ray and bronchoscopy, which is a diagnostic test that aims to check the airways, identifying any type of alteration. Understand how bronchoscopy is performed.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of silicosis is done with the aim of relieving symptoms, with the use of medications to relieve coughs and medications that are capable of dilating the airways, facilitating breathing, usually being indicated by the doctor. In addition, if there is a sign of infection, the use of antibiotics may be recommended, which are indicated according to the microorganism causing the infection.
It is important that protective equipment is used in order to avoid exposure to silica dust and the development of the disease. That is why it is extremely important for people working in this environment to wear goggles and masks that are able to filter out the silica particles. In addition, it is important that measures are adopted to control the production of dust in the workplace.
The treatment of silicosis should be followed as directed by the doctor to avoid possible complications, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, pulmonary emphysema, tuberculosis, and lung cancer, for example. If there is an evolution of the disease or complications, the doctor may recommend performing a lung transplant so that the patient has a restored quality of life. See how the lung transplant is done and what the post-operative is like.
