Which occupation increases risk for silicosis:

Ans. a. Mica workerSILICOSISDefinition: Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of silica dust.Epidemiology: Silicosis is seen in individuals who work in mining, quarrying, tunneling, glass and pottery making, and sandblasting.Signs and Symptoms: Silicosis will cause similar symptoms to asbestosis (or any other pneumoconiosis) except the acute form of silicosis, which is caused by massive exposure that causes lung failure in months.Pathology: Silica causes inflammatory reactions with pathologic lesions being the hyaline nodule.Chest X-ray: In silicosis there are nodules (1-10 mm) seen throughout the lungs that are most prominent in the upper lobes. A characteristic finding is eggshell calcifications (rare). In progressive massive fibrosis, densities are 10 mm or more and coalesce in large masses.Diagnosis: A lung biopsy is usually necessary for the diagnosis of Silicosis.Treatment: fhere is no effective therapy for silicosis. Death occurs usually because of progressive respiratory insufficiency. There is an association of silicosis with pulmonary TB. Patients with silicosis should have yearly purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin testing; a patient with positive reactive PPD (> 10 mm) should get isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis for 9 months.Extra MileCauses of interstitial lung disease (ILD)CauseDiseaseAsbestosAsbestosisGlass workers, mining, sandblasting, brickyardsSilicosisCoal workerCoal worker's pneumoconiosisCottonByssinosisElectronics, ceramics, fluorescent light bulbsBerylliosisMercuryPulmonary fibrosis