Background: Silicosis is reported to be an occupational lung disease, which is caused by the inhalation of silica dust. Workers in occupations related to silica dust exposure are characterized by increased foci of fibrogenesis which result in radiological and pathological findings in the lungs. In most circumstances silicosis only develops subsequent to substantial occupational exposures.
Material & Methods: The present prospective study was conducted at department of respiratory medicine of our tertiary care hospital. The study was an observational study conducted during a period of one year. The study done at 95% confidence interval at 10% of maximum allowable error. All patients who were diagnosed with silicosis were enrolled into the study.
Results: In the present study, all patient had cough at presentation out which 7 (70%) patients had dry cough and 3 patients with productive coughs, four patients experienced loss of appetite. Eight (80%) patients had a history of smoking. Chest X-rays of all patients revealed bilateral, widespread, reticulonodular, and nodular appearances. Six patients had work on crusher machine and four patients as manual stone cutter. Pneumothorax was located bilaterally in all cases.
Conclusion: We concluded from the present study that inhalation of quartz dust or silica dusts was commonly associated with adverse health effects and it can cause serious morbidity like secondary spontaneous pneumothorax and mortalities.
Keywords: Silicosis, occupational lung disease, secondary spontaneous pneumothorax.
Characterization of Dust Exposure for the Study of Chronic Occupational Lung Disease: A Comparison of Different Exposure Assessment Strategies
