Acute Silicosis
Overview
Causes
Silica dust can come from cutting, drilling, breaking, or grinding soil, sand, granite, or other items. It becomes trapped in the lungs when the dust gets in the air that people breathe.
Pathway to Lungs |
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Risk Factors
The risk is higher in people who spend time around air that has silica dust in it. Jobs that involve these tasks also raise the risk:
- Sandblasting or rock crushing (for road base)
- Construction or masonry
- Wrecking and demolition
- Abrasive blasting
- Concrete or drywall finishing
- Mining or rock drilling
- Stone milling or cutting
- Sand and gravel screening
- Agriculture
- Ceramics, clay, pottery
- Glassmaking
- Vitreous enameling of china plumbing fixtures
- Making soaps and detergents
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
Symptoms may appear within a few weeks to five years after exposure.
A person may have:
- Trouble breathing
- Coughing
- Weakness
- Fever
- Weight loss
Treatments
Treatment
There is no cure. The goal of treatment is to avoid silica dust so the lungs do not get damaged more. To help with breathing the doctor may advise:
- Avoiding smoking
- Medicines to improve air flow, ease cough, or treat infection
- Oxygen therapy to support breathing
- Lung rehabilitation
- A lung transplant
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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