Silicosis
Alternative Names
Acute silicosis; Chronic silicosis; Accelerated silicosis; Progressive massive fibrosis; Conglomerate silicosisSymptoms
- Chronic cough
- Shortness of breath with exercise, usually in patients who have progressive massive fibrosis
Other symptoms of this disease, especially in acute silicosis:
- Fever
- Cough
- Weight loss
- Severe breathing difficulty
Exams and Tests
Your health care provider will take a medical history that includes many questions about your jobs (past and present), hobbies, and other activities that may have exposed you to silica. The health care provider will also do a physical exam.
Tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out similar diseases include:
References
American Thoracic Society. Adverse effects of crystalline silica exposure. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997;155:761-765.
Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000.
Pipavath S. Imaging of Interstitial Lung Disease. Radiol Clin North Am. 2005 May; 43(3); 589-599.
Noble J. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:694-696
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